Chapter XXIX Definitions of Terms and Phrases
The terms and phrases used in describing the work included in this book have been arranged alphabetically in this chapter, together with their definitions. This has been done for the purpose of furnishing a boy with a handy reference, with definitions in a clear and simple form, covering only such points as apply to his particular kind of work.
Abbreviations
d stands for “penny.” E. G. 16d stands for sixteen-penny nails (see page 36).
I.e. or i.e. stands for “that is.”
E. G. or e.g. stands for “for example.”
Viz. or viz. stands for “namely, to wit.”
“ stands for “inch” or “inches.” E. G. 2” means two inches.
' stands for “foot” or “feet.” E. G. 2’ means two feet.
etc. stands for “and so forth.”
Abutting Surface.—Next or adjoining.
Animated Animals.—Animals (such as those used in the back-yard circus) which are constructed and then given life. In the case of the circus animals, the boys who enclose themselves in the bodies furnish the animals with life.
Bait-stick.—A stick in a trap, upon which the bait is placed. It is also known as the trigger.
Baluster. See Balustrade.
Balustrade.—A series of small spindles or posts (Balusters), to the tops of which a bar (Hand Rail) is attached, placed along the sides of stairs and around stair openings. The hand rail is supported at either end by a post (Newel Post). E. G. See Figs. 71 and 75. Also applied to a solid wall built up the sides of a stairway and around the stair openings.
Batten Door.—A door formed by joining the boards together with battens.
Battens.—Strips of wood, or cleats, fastened across two or more boards to hold them together, as in making a cover or door. E. G. See Figs. 15, 189, and 194.
Bevel.—Formed by cutting off the sharp edge of a board or any piece of work. E. G. See Fig. 28.
A tool used for laying out bevels
Bird’s Mouth.—A notch, V-shaped, or the form of a bird’s mouth, cut in a piece of work. E. G. See Fig. 8.
Blind-nailing. See page 34.
Brace.—A strip, board, or heavier piece fastened across two or more pieces to strengthen and steady them; a diagonal strip.
Bracket.—A support, generally triangular in shape, screwed or nailed to a wall or object to hold up such things as shelves and cabinets.
Broom-wire.—The fine wire which is bound around brooms to hold the straw to the end of the broom-stick.
Bull’s-eye.—The centre ring of a target.
Butt-joint.—When the square end of one piece of wood butts or sets against another piece, the joint formed is known as a butt-joint. The pieces are not cut into as in the case of making other joints.
Casings.—The finishing strips placed around door and window openings. E. G. See Figs. 85, 88, and 89. They are also known as Trim.
Chair Rail.—A narrow board fastened around the walls of a room at a height equal to that of an ordinary chair-back.
Chamfer.—Formed by cutting off the sharp edge of a board. It is much the same as a bevel (see Fig. 28), but the term is more often applied to cases where the bevel is stopped, instead of running the entire length of the edge, and its ends rounded up to meet the square edge of the board. This form of chamfer is used for ornamental purposes, and is known as a Stop Chamfer. Figure 29 shows a form of chamfer used in planing end-wood.
Cleats.—Strips of wood fastened to others to strengthen them; or strips secured to an object for the purpose of supporting a shelf or drawers. E. G. See Figs. 15 and 148; also descriptions relating to same.
Clinching Nails. See page 34.
Corbelled Brick.—Several courses (layers) of brick so laid that each projects a little beyond, or comes a little within, the course below. E. G. See corbelled chimney for doll-house, Fig. 103, Chapter VI.
Corner Stone.—A stone placed in the corner of a foundation.
Cornucopiæ.—The plural for cornucopia; made by rolling paper or other material into the shape of cones or funnels.
Countersunk. See Screws on page 36.
Cross-piece.—A piece that crosses another; a piece fastened in a horizontal or oblique position, and extended from one piece to another.
Cross Section. See Section.
Details.—The parts of which a thing consists; a Detailed Drawing is usually a working drawing, showing all the parts of a piece of work, with dimensions marked upon them.
Diagonal.—A strip, board, or heavier piece fastened in an oblique, or slanted, position—used in bracing (see Bracing of Toboggan Platform Framework, Fig. 310); also a line drawn obliquely to another line, several lines, or an object.
Diagonally.—In a diagonal direction.
Diameter.—The distance equal to a straight line passing through the centre of a circle or a circular object, terminated at both ends by the circumference, or the curved surface.
Door Frame.—The wooden frame built in a door opening for the door to swing in. For definition of Jambs, Sill, and Head, see Window Frame.
Door-stops.—Wooden strips nailed around the Jambs and Head of a door frame, for the door to swing against, and to make a tight joint between the door and frame.
Dovetail-joint.—A tongue, undercut so as to make it wedge-shaped (somewhat the shape of a dove’s tail), is prepared upon one piece, and a mortise, the shape and size of this tongue, is cut in the other piece for it to set into. E. G. See Figs. 209 and 210, and text on page 210, Chapter XV.
Dowelling.—A process of securing together two edges or faces of a piece of work with pins of wood or metal. Holes are bored in the edges or faces of the pieces, and wooden pegs are cut to fit them. These pegs are coated with glue and then driven into place. The edges or faces of the pieces are also covered with glue, and if the pieces have been properly planed so as to fit together perfectly, a tight joint will be obtained when the glue has dried. The work should be clamped until the glue has dried. E. G. See Fig. 54. For nails used as dowels, see Fig. 357.
Dowels.—The pegs or pins used in dowelling.
Dressed.—After lumber has been planed at a mill, it is known as “dressed stuff.” A board may be dressed to the proper dimensions, that is, prepared either by sawing, planing, paring, or scraping.
Driving Home a Nail.—The act of applying the finishing strokes of a hammer upon the head of a nail in driving it into wood (see Driving Nails, page 32).
Drop.—A piece of scenery hung from the Gridiron above the stage. E. G. See Figs. 331, 332, and 340.
Elevation.—A straight Side or End view of an object. E. G. See Fig. 206.
Em.—A square type. Used as a unit in measuring type. The letter “m” in type originally had a square end.
En.—A type half an “em” in width.
End-plate.—A timber, such as a two-by-four or two-by-six, placed across the tops of the studs in the end of a framework, for the roof rafters or the floor joists above to rest upon. E. G. See Fig. 184. When placed across the studs in the side of a framework it is known as a Side-plate.
End-wood.—Wood which has been cut across the grain and shows the ends of the grain upon its surface. E. G. The end of a stick.
Equidistant.—Equally distant.
Finishing Nail.—A nail with a small head used on surfaces to be exposed, where it is desirable to make as small nail holes as possible. The finishing nail is very handy for all kinds of small work.
Fishing.—An operation where two or more pieces are joined together, end to end, by means of strips (known as Fish-plates) nailed or screwed across the joints. It is also known as a Fish-joint, and is a common form of splice. E. G. See Fig. 183.
Flange.—A projecting rim such as the edge of a spool.
Flush.—A surface of a board is said to be flush with the surface of another when those boards are so placed together that the two surfaces are even, or extend along the same line or plane.
Font.—An assortment of type of one size and style, including a certain number of each letter in the alphabet (large and small), punctuation marks, and such characters as are necessary in printing. Spaces and Quads are sold separately.
Foundation.—The base upon which a building rests. Usually made of stone, brick, or posts, and placed below the surface of the ground.
Gable-end.—That portion of a wall which extends into the angle formed by a gable or gambrel roof. E. G. See Figs. 64, 77, 96, and 109.
Gauge of Tracks.—The distance between the tracks.
Grease Paint.—A paint for the purpose of making-up the face in preparation for a circus or entertainment of some sort. Prepared of a composition easily removed, and free from injurious substances.
Gridiron.—The framework above the stage from which the scenery drops are suspended. The framework consists of a series of parallel bars resembling a gridiron.
Groove.—A channel or hollow cut in a piece of wood. In a tongued-and-grooved board it is the hollow in which the tongue fits.
Halving. See Fig. 267; also description on page 259. This joint is also known as a Halved-joint.
Hand Rail. See Balustrade.
Hem.—The edge of a piece of cloth doubled over and sewed, to strengthen it and prevent the threads from ravelling.
Hexagonal.—Six-sided.
Horizontal.—Parallel to the horizon.
Hornstone.—A variety of quartz having the appearance of flint, but more brittle.
Kerf.—The opening, or narrow slot, made in sawing.
Latch-pocket. See Spring-catch.
Lath.—A strip approximately one and one-half inches wide, three-eighths of an inch thick, and four feet long. Nailed across the walls and ceiling of a room upon which to place plaster.
Locking-up.—The process of tightening a form of type so as to hold it together (see description, page 136).
Longitudinal Section. See Section.
Making-up.—Painting the face as a disguise or to show expression marks.
Mitre.—The end of a board is mitred when cut off at an angle of forty-five degrees. Although applied to other angles, the term mitre is understood to mean a forty-five degree cut, unless otherwise stated (see Bench-hook, Fig. 11, and Mitre-box, Fig. 12, Chapter I; also descriptions of their use).
Mitred Try-square.—Used for laying off mitres (see Figs. 38 and 39, Chapter II).
Mortise.—A slot or cavity made in a piece of wood to receive the end of another piece. E. G. See Figs. 208, 210, 211, Chapter XV. Bevelled Mortise.—A mortise with its bottom or sides bevelled. E. G. See Fig. 10, Chapter I.
Mould.—Something which serves to give the proper form to an object. E. G. The mould for shaping a canvas canoe, Fig. 204, Chapter XV.
Newel Post. See Balustrade.
Notch.—A hollow cut in anything; a nick; an indentation. To Notch.—To cut in small hollows, as to notch a stick. E. G. See Fig. 191, Chapter XIV, and Fig. 392, Chapter XXVII.
Obsidian.—A form of lava.
On Centres.—In spacing studs or strips of any kind, they are spoken of as being placed a certain number of inches on centres. E. G. Twelve inches on centres means that the distance from the centre of one piece to the centre of another is twelve inches.
Out of Plumb.—Not vertical; not perpendicular to the horizon.
Out of Square.—Askew; oblique; not true.
Parallel.—Lines or objects are parallel to one another when they have the same direction, and all corresponding points are equidistant from one another.
Perpendicular.—Vertical; plumb; in an upright position.
Perspective.—A perspective is a drawing showing an object in the form in which it appears to the eye. The lines converge, or approach nearer together, as they go away from the eye, until they finally meet at a point on the horizon, or a line drawn to represent the horizon. E. G. In looking down a railway track the telegraph poles and tracks appear to run together on the line of the horizon.
Pica.—The standard of measurement in printing. A name given to a size of type which measures one-sixth of an inch high (measured from the nicked side to the side opposite); and seventy-two ems (see Em) measure one foot.
Pie.—A mixed assortment of type. See page 135, Chapter IX.
Pieing Type or Making Pie.—Spilling or mixing up type.
Pipe-straps.—Iron straps used mostly by pipe-fitters to fasten gas-piping in place. E. G. See Figs. 321 and 322.
Pitch.—The pitch of a board is the degree to which it has been tilted.
Plan.—A drawing showing a view of an object, looking down upon it, either on top of it (e. g. see Figs. 205 and 207), or with the upper portion sliced off (e. g. see Fig. 190. This shows a plan of the log-cabin at a level of the door and windows, with the upper portion removed).
Plank.—Lumber two inches or more in thickness is known as planks or planking. Anything of less thickness is known as boards.
Plumb.—Perpendicular; vertical; true. An instrument for determining whether or not an object is plumb (see Fig. 14, Chapter I).
Proscenium.—The front portion of a stage. The Proscenium Arch is the arch or frame extending around the front of the stage of a theatre.
Pumice Stone.—A porous rock, of extreme lightness, used for polishing metals; for smoothing the surface of wood; and for smoothing the surface of a coat of paint before applying a second coat (see Painting of Canvas Canoe, page 214).
Pyrotechnics.—The art of making fireworks; fireworks; the composition and use of fireworks.
Quad.—An abbreviation for quadrat. A block of type-metal lower than the type, used for filling out lines, and for spacing between lines. A 2-em quad is two “ems” in width, and a 3-em quad three “ems” in width.
Quartz.—Glassy crystals, having the form of a six-sided prism, terminated at each end by a pyramid. It is colorless, or transparent, when pure, and more or less opaque and in various colors when impure.
Quoins.—The wedges used to tighten or lock-up a form of type. E. G. See Figs. 155 and 156.
Rabbet.—A groove or hollow cut in a piece of work, generally for the purpose of joining it with some other material. E. G. The sides of the bow and stern pieces of the Canvas Canoe described in Chapter XV are rabbeted so the ribbands and the edge of the canvas will fit in them (see Figs. 200 and 202, Chapter XV).
Radius.—The distance from the centre of a circle to any point upon its circumference. It equals one-half of the length of the diameter.
Rasp.—A file with coarse teeth, used for working upon wood.
Recess.—A niche in a wall; a space or opening formed by the wall setting in a little way.
Reënforce.—To strengthen; to supply additional strength with strips or braces.
Ridge.—An edge of a roof formed by the meeting of two sloping surfaces. The top edge of a peaked roof. E. G. See Fig. 192, Chapter XIV.
Ridge-boards.—The boards fastened along the ridge of a roof to cover the joint. E. G. See Fig. 192, Chapter XIV.
Right Angle.—An angle of ninety degrees. At Right Angles.—So as to form a right angle.
Rubbing Down.—Bringing to a smooth surface by rubbing with sand-paper, emery-paper, or pumice stone.
Rustic.—Made of limbs of trees in their natural form.
Sagging.—The bending of a body by its own weight, or by a load placed upon it.
Sapling.—A young tree.
Sash.—The frame which holds the glass of a window. Also applied to the frame with the glass in place.
Scraping.—A piece of glass or the blade removed from a plane is used for scraping a piece of work to give it a smoother surface than can be obtained by using a plane upon it.
Section Drawing.—A drawing made of an object, showing it as it would look if you were to cut it open or split it in two. The portions which would have to be cut through, in such an operation, are shaded in a drawing of this kind. E. G. See Fig. 218, Chapter XV; Fig. 300, Chapter XXI; and Fig. 316, Chapter XXII.
A Cross Section is a section taken through the short way of an object.
A Longitudinal Section is a section taken through the long way of an object.
Selvage.—The selvage of cloth or wire-mesh is the edge which has been so woven as to prevent ravelling.
Semicircle.—Half a circle.
Set of a Saw’s Teeth. See page 21, Chapter II.
Setting Nails. See page 34, Chapter II.
Shape it Down.—A term used to imply that the board or piece of work shall be gradually cut down until it approaches its finished form and size.
Shooting Stick.—An iron or wooden tool with a head on one end, used to lock-up the Quoins in a form of type. E. G. See Fig. 155, Chapter IX.
Sills.—The lowest horizontal timbers in a building of any kind on which the structure rests. See also Window Frame.
Sleepers.—The timbers supporting the lower floor of a building, distinguished from joists by being filled in between with cinders or concrete. E. G. See Fig. 186, Chapter XIII.
Slip-knot.—A noose which slips along the line or rope around which it is tied. E. G. See Fig. 243, Chapter XVII.
Slot.—A mortise, or hole, with sides square or nearly so. Made by boring several holes, and then connecting and squaring them up with a chisel.
Space.—A thin piece of type-metal, lower than the type, used between words, and for spacing out lines. A 3-em space is a third of an “em” in width, a 4-em a quarter of an “em” in width, a 5-em a fifth of an “em,” and an 8-em (known as a hair space) is an eighth of an “em.”
Spike.—A twentypenny nail (four inches long) and all lengths greater. See list of sizes on page 36, Chapter II. To Spike a board in place is to fasten it with spikes.
Spliced.—Two pieces are spliced when joined together, generally end to end, in such a way that they are held together and act as one piece. E. G. See Fig. 183, Chapter XIII, and Fishing.
Spring-catch.—A small lock, such as shown in Figs. 96, 114, and 187. The latch is operated by a small knob, and is thrown into position by a small spring. The metal socket which is screwed in place for the latch to spring into is known as the Latch-pocket.
Sprint.—A short race run at full speed.
Squaring Lines.—By squaring lines across a board is meant the operation of drawing lines across a board with a try-square, the head of the try-square being placed against the tried-edge of the board so those lines will be at right angles to that tried-edge. E. G. See Fig. 38, Chapter II.
Staple.—A U-shaped piece of metal, with two sharp points which are driven into wood in the same way as a nail.
Stock.—Material; supplies.
The brace which holds the bit for boring; the block which holds the blade of a plane (see Fig. 24, Chapter II); the portion of a gun which contains the barrel and trigger.
Stops. See Door-stops and Window-stops.
Strap-hinge.—A hinge with long arms, or flaps, which extend over a larger area than those of an ordinary hinge, and give it the power of withstanding greater strains.
Studs.—The smaller pieces of timber used in the framework of a building, to which the siding is attached, or to which the laths are nailed. Known also as Studding.
Stuff.—In carpenter work this term is applied to the different sizes of lumber. E. G. Seven-eighths-inch stuff means boards seven-eighths of an inch thick; two-inch-stuff is lumber two inches thick.
Stunt.—Originally a slang word used to denote a trick or feat of some sort. It is now generally recognized as a legitimate word.
Swivel.—A fastening with a pivot which allows the object attached to it to revolve without twisting the cord, wire, or chain, by which that object is suspended. E. G. See Fig. 258, Chapter XVIII; and page 249.
Taper.—To make gradually smaller in diameter toward one end; to gradually diminish toward a point.
Temper.—Steel and iron tools are given their necessary degree of hardness by a process of heating and cooling, known as Tempering. Too much friction obtained while grinding a tool will destroy this temper, making it necessary to re-temper it.
Toe-nailing. See page 33.
Tongue.—The projecting edge of a tongued-and-grooved board. A projecting pin cut on a piece of wood to fit a mortise of the same shape cut in another piece of wood. Used in making Dovetail-joints. E. G. See Figs. 208 and 209, Chapter XV.
Tongued-and-grooved Boards.—Boards with a groove along one edge and a tongue along the opposite edge, so that the tongue of one board will fit in the groove of another, thus forming a fairly tight joint. These boards are known also as Matched Boards.
Trench.—A ditch; a long channel.
Tried-edge of Work. See Testing Work, page 28.
Trim.—The wooden Casings placed around door and window openings (see Figs. 85, 88, and 89, Chapter V).
To dress a piece of work; to cut; to make smooth.
Turnstile.—A post upon the top of which four horizontal arms are pivoted to revolve, so as to allow but one person to pass at a time (see Fig. 266, Chapter XIX, and description of construction on page 259).
Two-by-four.—A piece two inches thick by four inches wide used for supports and the construction of frameworks. Pieces of other dimensions are also known and spoken of by their sizes inches. E. G. Two-by-sixes, two-by-eights, and two-by-tens.
Typographical.—Relating or pertaining to typography.
Typography.—The art of setting type.
Undercutting.—As the term implies, the wood is undercut, or cut under, thus making it wedge-or V-shaped. E. G. See Fig. 209, Chapter XV; also text on page 211.
Upright.—An upright is a piece of timber which is perpendicular when in place.
Valance.—A drapery for a couch or bed. E. G. See Couch in illustration of a Boy’s Room, Chapter V.
Vertical.—Perpendicular to the horizon; upright; plumb; straight up and down.
Wainscot.—A lining placed upon the inside walls of a building. It was originally made of oak timbers, known as wainscot, but the term is now applied to any kind of wood, burlap, tapestry, or other material applied in the same manner. As a rule, it extends but part way up a wall, starting at the floor line.
Warped.—Twisted out of shape.
Washer.—A ring placed beneath the head of a bolt to give it a broader bearing surface, and thus prevent it from cutting into the surface of the piece of work. It is also placed under a nut to prevent it from working loose.
Wedge-shaped.—V-shaped.
Window Frame.—The wooden frame built in the window opening for the sash to fit into. The Jambs are the sides of this frame, the Sill the bottom piece upon which the Jambs rest, and the Head the top piece of the frame. E. G. See Figs. 187 and 188, Chapter XIII, and Fig. 193, Chapter XIV.
Window-stops.—Wooden strips nailed around the Jambs, Head, and Sill of a window frame to prevent rain and wind from entering between the sash and its frame.
Wing.—A piece of scenery placed at the side of the stage. E. G. See Figs. 333, 334, 335, 341, and 342, Chapter XXIV.