GLOSSARY.

1261
Crpoi.A. (It. from Cupo, hollow.) A term, properly spciiting, -nhich is confined to tlie
underside or ceiling part of a dome. See JJome.
Cdrb for Brick Steps. A timber nosing, generally of oak, used not only to prevent tho
steps from wearing, but also from being dislocated or put out of their places. AVhen
the steps are made to return, the curb also returns, but when they profile against a
wall, tlie ends of the cui-b or nosing pieces house at each end into the wall.
Curb Plate. A circular continued plate, either scarfed together or made in two or more
thicknesses. The wall plate of a circularly or elliptically ribbed dome is called a curb-
plate, as likewise the horizontal rib at the top, on which the vertical ribs terminate.
The plate of a skylight, or a circular frame fur a well, is also called a curb-plate. The
name is moreover given to a piece of timber supported in a curb roof by the upper ends
of the lower rafters for receiving tho feet of the upper rafters, which are thence called
ci(rb-raffcrs.
Curb Eoof. One formed of four contiguous planes externally inclined to each other, tlie
ridge being in the line of concourse of the two middle p'anes and the highest of tho
three lines of concourse. A roof of this construction is frequently termed a Mansard
roof, from the name of its supposed inventor. Its principal advantage over other roof-
ing arises from its giving more space in the garrets, whicli become attics.
Curb Stone. The stone in the foot-paving of a street, which divides it from the carriage-
paving, above which they are, or ought to be, raised.
Curia. (Grr.) A Eoman council house. Tho city and empire contained many curise.
The curia municipalis, or domus curia/is, seems to have, in destination, resembled our
Guildhall. The curia dominicalis was a sort of manor house.
Curling Stuff. That which is affected from the winding or coiling of the fibres round
the boughs of the tree where they begin to shoot out of the trunk. The double iron
plane is the best for working it.
Current. The necessary slope of a piece of ground or pavement for carrying oif the
water from its surface.
Cursor. (Lat.) The point of a beam compass that slides backwards and forwards. Also
the part of a proportional compass by wliich the points are set to any given ratio.
Curtail Step. The first or bottom step by wiiich stairs are ascended, ending at the
furthest point from tho wall, in which it is placed in a scroll
;
perhaps taking its name
from the step curling round like a cur's tail.
Curvature. See Radius of Curvature.
Curve. (Lat. Curvus.) A line that may be cut by a straight lino in more points than
one.
Curvilinear. Formed of curved or flowing lines. Thus a curvilinear roof is one erected
on a curA'ed plan, circular, elliptical, or otherwise. Tracery in the later Mediaeval styles
is so called.
Cushion of an Ionic capital. See Coussinet.
Cushion Capital. A capital used in Romanesque and
early Mediaeval architecture, resembling a cui-hiou pres-sed
down by a weight. It is also a cap consisting of a cube
rounded off at its lower angles, largely used in the Nor-
man period of architecture. Fig. 1397.
Cushion Rafter. See Principal Brack.
Cusp. (Lat. Cuspis.) One of the pendents of a pointed arch,
or of the arched head of a compartment of such an arch,
or one of the several pendents forming what may be
termed a poh/foil. Two cusps form a trefoil, three a
quatrefoil, and so on.
Custom
House. A custom house is an establishment for
receiving
the duties, or, as they are called, customs,
levied on
merchandise
imported into a country, as
well as of regulating the bounty or drawback on goods
exported.
According,
therefore, to the impoi tance and
wealth of a city, the building to receive it is of considerable consequence. The first
point that
immediately
presents itself is, that it should be provided with spacious
warehouses
for holding the merchandise which arrives, and in which it is, as it
were,
impounded till the duties are paid; and next, that there must be provided
ample
accommodation for the officers who are to supervise the levying of the
imposts.
The general principles in design are contained in the two maxims, of
ample
capaciousness for the merchandise to be received into the warehouses, and a
panoptical
view, on the part of the proper officers, of that which passes in the establish-
ment.
Security against fire must be strictly attended to. The warehoui-es and covered
places for examining and stowing the goods should therefore be arched in l)rick or
Btone, and should, moreover, be as much as possible on the ground floor. The offices