Descriptionary

zashiki in a Japanese house, a room for entertaining guests.

Indian Architecture

alinda a veranda.

aryaka an alignment of five columns symbolizing the five Dhiyana Buddhas.

basadi a Jain temple or monastery.

bhumi a floor or story of a building.

bodhika the capital of a column.

chavada a pavilion.

choultry a public assembly place or hall.

dhvajastambham a high pillar in front of a temple.

ghat a stairway leading to a body of water.

gumpha a monastery.

manastambha a freestanding pillar in front of a temple.

mandapa a hall in a temple.

matha a convent or monastery.

sikhara a tower or spire, tapering on both ends, of an Indian temple.

siras the capital of a column.

sringa in southern India, the dome of a Hindu temple.

stupa a Buddhist memorial mound, shaped like a beehive or a bell.

vihara a Buddhist monastery.

Middle Eastern Architecture

apadana a columned audience hall in an Iranian palace.

ataurique a Moorish plasterwork design featuring leaves and flowers.

bagnio a Turkish prison.

bazaar an outdoor marketplace of shops and stalls.

chahr bagh an Islamic garden divided into four parts of water channels symbolizing the four rivers of paradise.

cubit an ancient Egyptian and biblical measure of length equal to 20.62 inches.

horseshoe arch an Arabic or Moorish arch shaped distinctly like a horseshoe.

hosh an inner court of an Egyptian house.

kasr an Arabian castle or palace.

kiosk a Turkish pavilion or feasting pavilion.

kubba a domed tomb, a common Islamic burial structure. Also known as a turbe.

mihrab a niche in the wall of a mosque indicating the direction of Mecca.

minaret a tower within or alongside a mosque from which the faithful are called to prayer.

muristan Iranian term for hospital.

musall Iranian term for burial ground.

qa'a a reception hall in an Egyptian house.

qibla the wall of a mosque oriented toward Mecca.

serai a Turkish palace.

serefe the balcony of a minaret from which the faithful are called to prayer.

Native American Architecture

adobe a blend of clay and straw formed into sun- dried bricks.

banco a shelf around the interior of a kiva or pit house.

burial mound an elevated earthen grave.

cache a hole or chamber for storing dried food or other items.

chinking grass, mud, or clay sealing material applied between the cracks of a log home.

corbeled roof a roof frame composed of horizontal tiers that graduate in size from peak to base.

cordage hide or plant fiber used to tie structural members together.

cosmic tree the center pole in some Indian struc­tures, noted for its religious symbolism. Also known as the earth navel.

cribbed logs notched horizontal logs that overlap at the corner of a building.

dew cloth a cloth used by Plains Indians to line and insulate the inside of a tipi.

foot drums hollow log ceremonial drums played with the feet.

hogan an earth-covered dwelling built by the Navajo.

horno a pueblo baking oven shaped like a beehive.

italwa Creek Indian word for "town."

kashim a large Eskimo building used for social and religious gatherings.

kiva a chamber, frequently underground, where Pueblo Indians meet, conduct rituals, and weave cloth.

latillas in a pueblo roof, the small, round poles spanning between the vigas.

longhouse an Indian meeting house. Also, a long, multifamily dwelling of the Iroquois.

palisade a fence or wall composed of upright logs, frequently pointed, protecting a village.

pit house a partially underground, one-room house with an earthen roof.

plaza a public center for large gatherings outside.

puddled adobe a wet clay mixture used to finish a floor or wall.

pueblo a stone or adobe community building up to five stories high, built by southwestern Indians.

puncheon a slablike plank.

ramada a log sunshade or overhead trellis.

smoke flaps the adjustable portion of a tipi cover; it opens and closes to keep out wind and rain and to let out smoke.

tipi ring a circle of stones used to hold down tipi coverings.

totem pole a large post carved into faces and fan­tastic figures by northwestern Indians.

travois the V-shaped frame of tipi poles, used as a conveyance, pulled by dogs or horses.

tupik a summer tent used by Eskimos.

viga a log beam used as a frame member on a pueblo roof.

wattle and daub a framing technique employing upright or interwoven saplings to hold mud fill, used by southeastern and southwestern tribes.

wickiup a domed hut covered with bark or brush, used by the Kickapoo and Apache tribes.

wigwam an arched or conical dwelling covered with bark, hide, or mats, used by Indians from the Northeast and Great Lakes region.