AL ARCH.]

[Illustration: FIG. _D_.--LANCET ARCH.]

The Lancet Arch was characteristic of the Early English
period, is never found earlier, and but rarely occurs later.
The Equilateral Arch was the favourite arch of the
architects of the geometrical Decorated, but is not
unfrequently met with in the early part of the Perpendicular
period.

[Illustration: FIG. _E_.--OGIVAL ARCH.]

[Illustration: FIG. _F_.--DEPRESSED TUDOR ARCH.]

The Depressed (or Four-centred) Tudor Arch is characteristic
of the Perpendicular period, and was then constantly
employed. The Ogival Arch is occasionally employed late in
that period, but was more used by French and Italian
architects than by those of Great Britain.

BAND.--A flat moulding or projecting strip of stone.

BARREL-VAULTING.--See Waggon-head vaulting.

BARGE-BOARD (OR VERGE-BOARD).--An inclined and pierced or
ornamented board placed along the edge of a roof when it
overhangs a gable wall.

BASE.--(1) The foot of a column; (2) sometimes that of a
buttress or wall.

[Illustration: FIG. _G_.--BASE OF EARLY ENGLISH SHAFT.]

[Illustration: FIG. _H_.--BASE OF PERPENDICULAR SHAFT.]

[Illustration: FIG. _I_.--BASE OF DECORATED SHAFT.]

BASILICA.--(1) A Roman public hall; (2) an early Christian
church, similar to a Roman basilica in disposition.

BASTION (in Fortification).--A bold projecting mass of
building, or earthwork thrown out beyond the general line of
a wall.

BATTLEMENT.--A notched or indented parapet.

BAY.--One of the compartments in a building which is made up
of several repetitions of the same group of features;
_e.g._, in a church the space from one column of the nave
arcade to the next is a bay.

BAY-WINDOW.--A window projecting outward from the wall. It
may be rectangular or polygonal. It must be built up from
the ground. If thrown out above the ground level, a
projecting window is called an Oriel. (See Bow window.)

BEAD.--A small moulding of circular profile.

BELFRY.--A chamber fitted to receive a peal of bells.

BELFRY STAGE.--The story of a tower where the belfry occurs.
Usually marked by large open arches or windows, to let the
sound escape.

BELL (of a capital).--The body between the necking and the
abacus (which see).

BI