A Stonemason's Dictionary
A pocket dictionary of masonry terms, names and expressions

Egg And Dart: A decoration used to enrich the Ovolo moulding. Formed from alternate egg shapes and downward pointing arrows. Also called Echinus.

Elliptical Arch: An arch whose line is part of a true ellipse.

Embrasure: A small opening, or window, whose inner sides splay to a greater width than the actual opening to increase visibility.

Encaustic Tiles: A type of fired clay tile used in flooring, usually decorated with an impressed design which is then filled with contrasting coloured material.

Engaged Column: A column standing proud of a wall to which they are attached.

Entablature: The horizontal superstructure above a row of columns.

Entasis: The gentle swelling of a column biased towards its centre which prevents the "waisted" appearance of a straight or tapered column.

Extrados: The curved outer surface of an arch.

Eye of a Dome: The circular horizontal opening left at the top of a dome.