W

wall 1. A structure which serves to enclose or subdivide a building, usually presenting a continuous surface except where penetrated by doors, windows, and the like. 2. A rampart. 3. A retaining wall. For specific types, see battered wall, bearing wall, blank wall, blind wall, boarded wall, board wall, breakaway wall, cavity wall, common wall, composite wall, counterwall, curtain wall, dead wall, dry wall, dry-stacked surface-bonded wall, fire wall, gable-end wall, hollow wall, load-bearing wall, masonry-bonded hollow wall, mud wall, non-load-bearing wall, partition, party wall, retaining wall, serpentine wall, spandrel wall, springing wall, street wall, structural wall, sustaining wall, veneered wall.

wall anchor A wrought-iron clamp, often decorative, on the exterior side of a brick building wall that is connected to the opposite wall by a tie rod to prevent the walls from spreading apart; same as anchor, 10.

wall arcade A blind arcade used as an ornamental dressing to a wall.

wall base See base, 2.

wall beam A metal member which acts as a beam anchor.

wall bearer See bearer.

wall-bearing partition A load-bearing partition.

wall bed, recess bed A bed which folds and stands vertically when not in use, usually swung into a closet or recess; esp. used in apartment houses.

wallboard A rigid sheet composed primarily of wood-pulp, gypsum, or other materials; may be fastened to the frame of a building to provide an interior surface finish; the long edges of the board usually are tapered to provide easy treatment of the joints when board is erected. Also see dry wall.

wall box, beam box, wall frame 1. A frame or box which is set into a brick, masonry, or stone wall to receive a timber beam or joist. 2. In electrical wiring, a metal box which is set in a wall for switches, receptacles, etc.

wall bracket 1. A bracket which is fixed to a wall and used to support a structural member. 2. A bracket used to support a scaffold. 3. A bracket used to support piping, an electrical component, or a lighting fixture.

wall chase See chase, 1.

wall cladding A nonstructural material used as the exterior covering for the walls of a building; see cladding.

wall clamp A brace or tie to hold together two walls, or the two parts of a double wall.

wall cleanout A cleanout, 1 mounted on a wall; used where a drainage line is concealed behind a partition; a removable panel provides access to the cleanout.

wall clip A bracket that is used to anchor a wall.

wall column A column which is embedded, or partially embedded, in a wall.

wall coping See coping.

wall covering Any material or assembly which is used as a wall facing and is not an integral part of the wall.

wall crane A crane having a horizontal arm (with or without a trolley); supported from a sidewall or line of columns of a building; has a maximum swing of a half circle.

wall dormer A dormer whose face is integral with the face of the wall below, breaking the line at the cornice of a building.

wall flange Same as wall clip.

wall form A concrete form which is erected to provide the necessary shape, support, and finish for a concrete wall.

wall frame See wall box, 1.

wall furnace A self-contained, vented furnace, complete with air grilles, which is permanently attached to a wall; furnishes heated air directly to the surrounding space, either by gravity or by a mechanical blower.

wall furring Strips of wood or metal, masonry tiles, etc., applied to the rough surface of a wall so as to provide a flat plane upon which a surface material, or assembly, such as lath and plaster, wood paneling, wainscoting, etc., may be installed. Also see furring.

wall gable A portion of a wall that projects above the roof line in the form of a gable.

wall garden A garden of plants set in the joints of a stone wall, where soil pockets have previously been arranged.

wall grille A perforated plate, casting, molding, or framed bars or rods to cover a wall opening, radiator enclosure, etc., restricting vision but permitting the flow of air.

wall guard A protective, resilient strip which is applied to the surface of a wall (esp. along a corridor) to prevent its being damaged by carts, wagons, and the like.

wall handrail A rail, 1 similar to a handrail, but attached to a wall adjacent to a stair, paralleling the pitch of the flight.

wall hanger A stirrup or bracket built into a masonry wall to carry the end of a horizontal member.

wall height The vertical distance to the top of a wall, measured from the foundation wall, or from a girder or other immediate support of such wall.

wall hook 1. A special large nail or hook used as a beam anchor or for holding a wall plate fixed in position. 2. Same as wall iron.

wall-hung water closet A water closet mounted on a wall, so that no part of it touches the floor.

walling 1. Walls collectively. 2. Materials for constructing walls.

wall iron A hook or bracket fixed to a masonry wall to hold downspouts, lightning rods, etc.; a wall hook, 2.

wall joint The mortar joint between the stretchers in a brick wall; runs at right angles to a head joint.

wall line A line along the exterior face of a wall.

wall liner A sheet of fabric which is applied to a wall to prevent cracks, small gaps, or the like from showing through a covering such as wallpaper.

wall opening According to OSHA: an opening at least 30 in. (76.2 cm) high and 18 in. (45.8 cm) wide, in any wall or partition, through which persons may fall, such as a chute opening.

wall outlet An electrical receptacle, whose face is flush with a wall, into which a plug is inserted.

wall panel A panel wall.

wallpaper Paper, or paper-like material, usually decorated in colors, which is pasted or otherwise affixed to walls or ceilings of rooms.

wall piece See wall plate, 2.

wall plate A horizontal member (such as a timber) across a timber-framed, masonry, or concrete wall to carry and distribute the load imposed by members that support the roof.

wall plug 1. Same as wall outlet. 2. A plug, 1.

wall pocket Same as wall box.

wall post 1. A post which is next to a wall, in a partition. 2. A post, fixed to a wall, against which a fence terminates, or from which a gate may be hung. 3. A post that supports a wall plate.

wall rail Same as wall handrail.

wall rib In medieval vaulting, a longitudinal rib against an exterior wall of a vaulting compartment.

wall shaft A colonette supported on a corbel or bracket which appears to support a rib of vaulting.

wall siding See siding.

wall sign 1. A sign mounted on, or fastened to, a wall. 2. In some codes in the US, a sign attached to the exterior wall of a building and projecting not more than 15 in. therefrom.

wall socket A wall outlet.

wall spacer A metal tie for holding a concrete form in position until the poured concrete has set.

wall stay Same as anchor, 10.

wall string, wall stringer A stair string set against a wall.

wall tie In masonry, a type of anchor (usually a metal strip) used to secure facing to a backup wall or to connect the two withes of a cavity wall; mortared into joints during setting. Also see butterfly wall tie, cavity wall tie, veneer wall tie.

wall tile A glazed tile, 1 used as a facing on a wall.

wall tower A tower forming an essential part of a defensive wall, especially one having a series of towers to enhance its fortification.

wall tracery Tracery that is false in the sense that there is no associated openwork; instead, the tracery is shown in relief on a solid wall.

wall vent A ventilation device for a wall cavity, crawl space, or attic.

wall-washing Lighting a wall by luminaires located close to the plane of the wall.

wall-wash luminaire Any luminaire located adjacent to a vertical surface on which its light is principally directed.

walnut A tough, dark brown-to-black wood having high strength; does not split easily; has a fine-to-coarse open grain; takes a high polish.

wane A rounded edge or bark along an edge or at a corner of a piece of lumber; usually caused by sawing too near the surface of the log.

ward 1. A metal obstruction in a lock; intended to prevent entrance or rotation of a key that does not fit the lock. 2. The outer defenses of a castle. Also see bailey. 3. A division in a hospital.

wardrobe, garderobe A room for the storage of garments.

warehouse A building designed for the storage of various goods.

warehouse set The partial hydration of cement stored for periods of time and exposed to atmospheric moisture.

ware pipe Same as vitrified-clay pipe.

warm-air furnace A self-contained unit for heating air which is circulated through it; the air either is conveyed through ducts or is discharged directly into the space being heated.

warm-air heating system A warm-air heating plant consisting of a fuel-burning furnace, enclosed in a casing, from which the heated air is distributed to various rooms of the building through ducts.

warming-house Same as calefactory.

warm-setting adhesive An intermediate-temperature-setting adhesive.

warning pipe An overlow pipe whose outlet is conspicuous, so that discharge from it can be observed readily.

warp 1. See carpet warp. 2. Distortion in shape of a parallel plane surface; in lumber, usually results from a change in moisture content.

warped Said of thin-bedded rock, such as flagging, having a natural curved or a rippled finish similar to warped wood.

warping The deviation of a surface from its original or intended shape, as a concrete slab or wall surface; esp. caused by moisture and temperature differentials.

warping joint A joint permitting warping of pavement slabs when moisture and/or temperature differentials occur in the pavement.

warp wire In wire cloth, a wire running parallel to the length of the cloth.

warranty See guarantee.

warranty deed A written instrument conveying real property, in which the grantor makes legally binding representations concerning the quality of his title and its freedom from encumbrances.

Warren truss, Warren girder A form of truss having parallel upper and lower chords, with connecting members which are inclined, forming a series of approximately equilateral triangles.

wash 1. The sloping upper surface of a building member, as a coping or sill, to carry away water; said of any other member serving such a function. See also drip cap. 2. A manner of applying water color in a rendering. Also see wall-washing.

washable Capable of being washed repeatedly without significant erosion and without change in appearance or functional characteristics.

washable distemper A distemper which contains an emulsified oil, giving washable characteristics to a distemper coating.

washbasin Same as lavatory, 1.

washboard Same as baseboard.

wash boring The drilling of test hole in the ground to obtain soil samples that are brought up along with a mixture of water.

wash coat A very thin, semitransparent coat of paint; applied as a preliminary coating on a surface; acts as a sealer or guide coat.

washed finish See rustic finish.

washer A flat ring, usually thin, of metal, rubber, or other material, depending on its use; used to prevent leakage, to provide insulation; used as the bearing surface under the head of a fastener, such as a bolt, to assure tightness, relieve friction, improve stress distribution, or span large clearance holes.

wash fountain A large lavatory-type vessel which supplies tempered water for group washing of hands and faces.

wash light Same as wall-wash luminaire.

wash primer A primer containing polyvinyl butyral, zinc chromate, alcohol, and phosphoric acid; applied in a thin film to bare steel, causes etching of the metal, thereby promoting adhesion of the subsequent coat.

washroom A room providing facilities for washing; a lavatory or toilet room.

wash water, flush water Water carried on a truck mixer in a special tank for flushing the interior of the concrete mixer after discharge of the concrete.

waste 1. The discharge from any fixture, appliance, area, or appurtenance which contains no fecal matter. 2. See sanitary waste. 3. Waste material such as garbage, refuse, rubbish, and trash.

waste branch Same as waste pipe.

waste compactor See compactor, 2.

waste-disposal unit An electric-motor-driven device for grinding waste food and disposing of it through the plumbing drainage pipes; may be installed without a grease trap in a residence.

waste-food grinder Same as waste-disposal unit.

waste fuel A fuel which is a waste by-product of some industrial process.

waste-heat recovery The use of waste heat in a building to preheat cold water before it is fed into a hot-water heater.

waste management 1. In the public sector, a systems approach to the efficient control of the disposal of waste in a community or region; requires the establishment of a policy regarding environmental standards, the collection and treatment of wastes, the monitoring of air, soil, and water quality, and the enforcement of established regulations. 2. In for-profit organizations, the carrying out of similar functions, with the exception of enforcement.

waste material See garbage, refuse, rubbish, and trash.

waste pipe A drainpipe which receives the waterborne discharge from plumbing fixtures other than those fixtures receiving fecal matter; also see indirect waste pipe.

waste plug A tapered device used to prevent the flow of water through the drain of a washbasin or the like.

waster A second or cull.

waste receptacle A container for holding or facilitating the removal of refuse.

waste stack A vertical pipe which conveys liquid wastes which are free of fecal matter.

waste vent Same as stack vent, 1.

waste water See waste.

waste well Same as leaching cesspool.

wasting In stonecutting, splitting off the surplus stone with a wedge-shaped chisel (called a point), or with a pick, so that the faces of the stone are reduced to nearly plane surfaces; dabbing.

wat, vat Buddhist monastery in Cambodia.

watching loft 1. Same as excubitorium, 1. 2. A lookout in a tower, steeple, or other high building.

watchman’s system An approved installation of equipment used to record the rounds of a watchman.

watch turret Same as bartizan.

water absorption Of a test specimen, the increase in weight after immersion in water for a specified time, expressed as a percentage of its dry weight; usually the test conditions are specified.

water analysis A chemical analysis of the dissolved materials in water, including a determination of the amount of suspended solids and the pH value.

water back A system of pipes or a reservoir of water at the back of a fireplace, or the like, to utilize its heat in providing a supply of hot water.

water bar, weather bar A wood or metal strip which is fixed to the sill of an external door or a window to resist the penetration of water.

water-base paint A paint capable of being thinned or diluted with water; for example, casein paint, latex paint, vinyl paint.

water blasting The cutting or abrading of an exterior surface by a stream of water ejected from a nozzle at high velocity.

waterboard An obsolete term for watertable, 1.

waterborne preservative A water-soluble chemical used to treat wood for protection against decay and insects.

water cement Same as hydraulic cement.

water-cement ratio The ratio of the amount of water, exclusive only of that absorbed by the aggregates, to the amount of cement in a concrete or mortar mixture.

water channel, condensation channel A trough-like depression in the top of the interior sill of a glazed opening to collect and drain away condensed moisture which forms on the interior face of the glass.

water check Same as upstand.

water-checked casement A casement having grooves cut under the sill and meeting stile to prevent capillary movement of water.

water closet, W.C. 1. A plumbing fixture used to receive human excrement and to discharge it through a waste pipe, using water as a conveying medium. 2. A room containing a water closet, 1.

water content Same as moisture content.

water cooler Same as drinking-water cooler.

water-cooling tower A structure, usually on the roof of a building, over which water is circulated, so as to cool it evaporatively by contact with the air.

water course See damp course.

water crack In plastering, a fine crack in a coat applied before the previous coat has dried, or in a coat having excessive water in the plaster.

water curtain A deluge sprinkler system above a theater proscenium.

water deactivation See deactivation.

water distributing pipe A pipe, in a building, which conveys water from the water service pipe to plumbing fixtures or other water outlets.

water filter A device for the removal of, or reduction of, suspended solid contaminents in water by passing the water through a porous medium.

water filtration See filtration.

waterflow-alarm In a fire sprinkler system, an alarm which is actuated when the flow through the sprinkler system is in excess of a predetermined maximum value.

water fountain 1. See architectural fountain. 2. See drinking fountain. 3. See wash fountain.

water gain See bleeding, 4.

water garden A garden making use of pools in which aquatic and other water-loving plants are grown.

water gauge A manometer filled with water.

water-gel explosive One of a wide variety of materials used for blasting; contains substantial proportions of water and a high proportion of ammonium nitrate, some of which is in solution in the water.

water harvesting Any combination of techniques that result in storm water being captured on-site for later use.

water hammer 1. In water lines, a loud thumping noise that results from a sudden stoppage of the flow. 2. In steam lines, water of condensation that is picked up and carried through the steam main at high velocity; when direction of the flow changes, the water particles hit the pipe walls, emitting a banging noise.

water-hammer arrester A device installed in a piping system to absorb hydraulic shock waves and eliminate water hammer, 1.

water-hardened Said of a metal that has been quenched in water after being heated to a critical temperature.

water heater A device for heating water for domestic use, usually supplied at a temperature in the range between 120°F and 140°F (approx. 50°C and 60°C).

water joint 1. A joint in a stone pavement where the stones are intentionally placed slightly higher than elsewhere; the raised surface is intended to prevent the settling of water in the joints. 2. A saddle joint, 1.

water leaf 1. In early Roman and Greek ornamentation, a type of lotus leaf or an ivy motif. 2. Similar to water leaf, 1 but divided symmetrically by a prominent rib; also called a Lesbian leaf. 3. Late 12th cent. capital with a large leaf at each angle, broad, smooth, curving up toward the abacus corner and then curling inward.

water-leaf capital Same as water leaf, 3.

water level A simple device for establishing two points at the same elevation; consists of a water-filled flexible hose (from which air has been excluded) with a piece of glass tubing at each end; the water level is observed through the glass tubing.

water-level control A control used to maintain the water level in a boiler to reasonably close limits; use of the control makes it unnecessary to add large quantities of replacement water at any one time.

water lime Hydraulic lime or hydraulic cement; will set under water.

waterline Inside a cistern, the highest water level to which the ball valve should be adjusted to shut off.

water main A main supply pipe in a system for conveying water for public or community use, controlled by a public authority.

water meter A mechanical device used to measure the volume of water passing through a pipe or outlet.

water mill A mill, 3 that is powered, by running water, such as a stream; also see tidemill.

water motor alarm In a fire sprinkler system, a hydraulically actuated device that provides a local audible alarm when water flows through the wet alarm valve.

water outlet 1. An opening for the discharge of water that supplies a plumbing fixture, boiler, or heating system, or any device or piece of equipment which is not part of a plumbing system but requires water to operate. 2. An opening through which water is discharged into the atmosphere.

waterproof In the building trades, descriptive of any material or construction which is impervious to water.

waterproofing A material, usually a membrane or applied compound, used to make a surface impervious to water.

waterproofing compound Any applied material which imparts the quality of waterproofing to a surface.

waterproof paper A water-impervious paper; usually a synthetic resin has been added to the pulp or mixed with the sizing.

waterproof portland cement A portland cement interground with a water-repellent material such a stearate (e.g., sodium or aluminum); reduces capillary water transmission under little or no pressure but does not completely stop water-vapor transmission.

water pump A device for raising fresh water from a lower elevation where it is available, to a higher elevation where it can be used; where electricity is not available, pumps are often powered by windmills.

water putty A type of wood filler; a powder which becomes putty-like when mixed with water; used to fill small holes and cracks in wood.

water ramp A series of pools, arranged so that water flows from one to another.

water-reducing admixture 1. An admixture which either (a) increases the slump of freshly mixed concrete or mortar without increasing the water content or (b) maintains the slump with a reduced amount of water due to factors other than air entrainment. 2. In concrete, an admixture which can produce a large reduction in water or flowability without an undue set retardation or entrainment of air.

water-reducing agent A material which either increases workability of freshly mixed mortar or concrete without increasing its water content or maintains workability with a reduced amount of water.

water repellent 1. Said of a surface that is resistant to, but not impervious to, water penetration. 2. A material used to treat a surface to increase its resistance to the penetration of water.

water-repellent cement A hydraulic cement having a water-repellent agent added during the process of manufacture.

water-repellent preservative A water repellent, 2 that provides moderate protection against the deterioration of wood.

water resistant Said of any material capable of withstanding limited exposure to water.

water retentivity That property of a mortar which prevents the rapid loss of water by absorption to masonry units; prevents bleeding or water gain when mortar is in contact with relatively impervious units.

water riser pipe See riser, 4.

water seal The barrier to the passage of air through a trap, 1 in a drain, which is provided by water in the trap; a seal, 3.

water seasoning The seasoning of lumber by soaking it in water for a period of time prior to air drying.

water-service pipe That part of a building main installed by, or under the jurisdiction of, a water department or company.

watershed 1. A dividing line between drainage areas. 2. A wash, 1. 3. A water table, 1. 4. An area from which a community or region receives its supply of water.

watershed dormer Same as shed dormer.

water softener An apparatus which chemically removes the calcium and magnesium salts from a water supply, usually by ion exchange. Also see zeolite.

water spotting, white spots White marks which are left on a paint film when droplets of water evaporate, or as a result of sealing in moisture.

waterspout A duct, spout, or the like, through which rainwater is discharged from a roof or gutter; for examples, see gargoyle and canale.

water-spray fixed system A fire sprinkler system that sprays water in a predetermined pattern, and with a predetermined water-particle size, velocity, and density; usually discharged from especially designed nozzles.

water stain 1. Discoloration in converted timber caused by water. 2. A water-soluble dye used as a stain for wood that is to be finished.

water standpipe system See standpipe system.

water stop A diaphragm used across a joint as a sealant, usually to prevent the passage of water.

water-struck brick See soft-mud brick.

water supply fixture unit (WSFU) A factor so chosen that the load-producing effects of different kinds of plumbing fixtures and their conditions of service can be expressed as multiples of that factor.

water supply stub A vertical pipe less than one story in height supplying one or more fixtures.

water-supply system Of a building, the water-service pipe, the water-distributing pipes, and the necessary connecting pipes, fittings, control valves, and all appurtenances in or adjacent to the building.

water table 1. A horizontal exterior ledge on a wall, pier, buttress, etc.; often sloped and provided with a drip molding to prevent water from running down the face of the lower portion; also called an offset, 1. Also see base course, drip cap. 2. Same as groundwater level.

water tank An enclosed storage container, usually pumped to an elevated location, to increase the water pressure in a water piping system.

water tap A water outlet valve; a faucet.

water test 1. A test to determine whether there are leaks in a system of piping. Also see test plug and test pressure. 2. A test of a drainage or vent system to determine if it leaks; should not be used in locations where the temperature during the test may fall below the freezing point of water. Also see air test.

water theater A terraced structure in which water flows from higher terraces to lower ones.

watertight 1. Said of an enclosure or barrier that does not permit the passage of moisture. 2. Said of a surface that is impermeable to water except when exposed to a hydrostatic pressure sufficient to produce structural discontinuity by rupture.

water tower A tower into which water is pumped to raise its level high enough above the level of a water distribution system so that the system will be supplied with adequate water pressure.

water valve A device in a water distribution system to start or stop, regulate, or prevent the reversal of flow of water in a system.

water vapor barrier See vapor barrier.

water vapor diffusion The process by which water vapor spreads or moves through permeable materials caused by differences in water vapor pressure.

water vapor permeability That property of a material which permits the passage of water vapor through it; the time rate of water vapor transmission through a unit area of flat material of unit thickness induced by a unit vapor pressure difference between two specific surfaces, under specified temperature and humidity conditions.

water vapor retarder See vapor barrier.

water vapor transmission (WVT) The rate of water vapor flow, under steady specified conditions, through a unit area of material between the two parallel surfaces (and normal to these surfaces).

water well See well, 4.

waterworks A complete system of pipelines, conduits, and so forth for distributing water from one or more reservoirs, purifying the water, and then pumping it through a distribution system for use by a community.

watt A unit of power; the power required to do work at the rate of 1 joule per second, which is equal to the power dissipated in an electric circuit in which a potential difference of 1 volt causes a current of 1 ampere to flow.

watt-hour A unit of work equal to 3,600 joules; equivalent to the power of 1 watt operating for a period of 1 hour.

watt-hour meter An electricity meter which measures and registers the active power in an electric circuit with respect to time.

wattle A framework of interwoven rods, poles, or branches.

wattle-and-daub A primitive form of wall construction consisting of upright wood poles with branches interwoven between them (wattle) that are then covered with plaster mixed with clay and straw (daub); often used to fill the space between structural timbers of timber-framed buildings in order to provide increased thermal insulation; also see jacal, 2.

wave front Of a sound wave, a continuous, imaginary surface which is the locus of points having the same phase at a given instant.

wavelength For light waves or sound waves, the distance between two successive points of a periodic wave in the direction of propagation, in which the oscillation has the same phase; the distance the wave travels in one period. For light waves three common units of wavelength are: micrometer, nanometer, and angstrom.

wave molding, oundy molding, swelled chamfer, undulating molding, undy molding A molding decorated with a series of stylized representations of breaking waves.

wave scroll Same as Vitruvian scroll.

wavy grain A curly figure in wood grain, similar to fiddleback, but with more uniform ripples and waves.

wax A thermoplastic solid material obtained from vegetable, mineral, and animal matter; soluble in organic solvents; used in paste or liquid form as a protective coating or polish on wood and metal surfaces and as an additive in paints.

waxing In a finished piece of marble intended for interior use, the filling of cavities with materials patterned and colored to match.

way A street, alley, or other thoroughfare or easement permanently established for the passage of persons or vehicles.

WB Abbr. for “welded base.”

WBT Abbr. for wet-bulb temperature.

W.C. Abbr. for water closet.

WCV Symbol for “butterfly (wafer) check valve.”

wd Abbr. for wood.

Wdr In the lumber industry, abbr. for “wider.”

weak axis The minor principal axis of a cross section.

weakened-plane joint Same as groove joint.

wearing surface, wearing course 1. The top layer of surfacing which carries vehicular traffic. 2. Same as topping.

weather That portion of a wood shingle that is exposed to the elements.

weather back The application of weatherproofing to the back (inner side) of a wall.

weather bar See water bar.

weather barrier On the outer surface of thermal insulation, any material which protects the insulation from weather damage, including solar radiation and atmospheric contamination.

weatherboard One of a number of horizontal boards commonly used as an exterior covering on timber-framed buildings to provide weather protection; for example, used as exterior sheathing to protect the infilling between the structural timbers. The upper edges of weatherboards are commonly tapered to a thinner edge than the lower edge so they can be overlapped by the weatherboards directly above them, or they have a rabbeted upper edge that fits under the overlapping board above, to shed water. Also see clapboards, which served the same purpose but were usually not as thick as weatherboards; also see siding.

weatherboarding 1. A type of wood siding commonly used in the early US as an exterior covering on a building of frame construction; consists of boards, each of which has parallel faces and a rabbeted upper edge which fits under an overlapping board above. 2. Same as clapboard or siding.

weather check Same as throat, 2.

weathercock A weathervane in the shape of a rooster.

weather door See storm door.

weathered 1. Descriptive of a material or surface which has been exposed to the elements for a long period of time. 2. Having an upper surface which is splayed so as to throw off water.

weathered joint See weather-struck joint.

weathered pointing Same as weather-struck joint.

weathered steel A high-strength steel whose own corrosion protects it from further corrosion.

weathered stone Stone that has been exposed to the elements over a long period of time, often resulting in changes in color or the development of a patina.

weather fillet See cement fillet.

weathering 1. Changes in color, texture, strength, chemical composition, or other properties of a natural or artificial material due to the action of the weather. 2. See sill offset. 3. The cover applied to a part of a structure to enable it to shed rainwater.

weather joint See weather-struck joint.

weather molding A molding shaped and located to discharge rainwater; same as dripmold.

weatherometer A device in which specimen materials can be subjected to artificial and accelerated weathering tests, the effects of sun, rain, and temperature changes; the simulated conditions are usually obtained by the use of electric arcs, water spray, and heating elements.

weatherproof So constructed or protected that exposure to the weather will not interfere with successful operation or function.

weather resistance The ability of a material, paint film, or the like to withstand effects of wind, rain, sun, etc., and retain its appearance and integrity.

weatherseal channel Of a door, a top-closing channel which is set in mastic with its flanges downward.

weather shingling Shingles that are hung vertically on the face of a wall, usually attached by nailing; provides protection against the penetration of moisture through the wall.

weather slating, weather tiling Slate or tile shingles that are hung on the face of a wall to prevent the penetration of rainwater.

weather strip A strip of wood, metal, neoprene, or other material applied to an exterior door or window so as to cover or seal the joint made by it with the sill, casings, or threshold, in order to exclude rain, snow, cold air, etc.

weather-struck joint, weathered joint A horizontal masonry joint in which the mortar is sloped outward from the upper edge of the lower brick, so as to shed water readily; formed by pressing the mortar inward at the upper edge of the joint.

weathertight Sealed against the intrusion of rain, snow, cold air, etc.

weather tiling, tile hanging Tile which is hung vertically on the face of a wall; usually attached by nailing; provides protection against moisture.

weather vane A metal plate, often decorated, or in the shape of a figure or object, which rotates freely on a vertical spindle to indicate wind direction; usually located atop a spire or other elevated position on a building.

weave bead A weld bead which is made with oscillations along the bead which are transverse to the length of the bead.

weaving In shingled roofing, where two adjoining surfaces meet, the alternate lapping of shingles on opposite faces.

weaving house Same as spinning house.

web 1. The portion of a truss or girder between the chords or flanges, whose principal function is to resist shear on the span. 2. A core divider in a hollow masonry unit.

web bar Steel reinforcement which is placed in a concrete member to resist shear and diagonal tension.

web clamp A type of clamp used to hold carpentry work during gluing; consists of a tape of nylon, or the like, with a metal fastener that is tightened with a wrench or screwdriver.

web crippling The local failure of a web plate, for example, as the result of a concentrated load.

web member In a truss, any member which joins the top and bottom chords.

web plate A steel plate which forms the web, 1 of a beam, girder, or truss.

web reinforcement 1. Steel bars, rods, etc., placed in a reinforced concrete member to resist shear and diagonal tension. 2. Additional metal plates connected to the web, 1 of a metal beam or girder to increase the strength of the web, 1.

web splice A splice joining two web plates.

web stiffener An angle iron which is connected to the web, 1 of a beam to distribute a load or to prevent buckling.

wedge 1. A piece of wood, metal, or other hard material, thick at one end and tapering to a thin edge at the other. 2. See lead wedge.

wedge anchor In prestressed concrete, a device for providing the means of anchoring a tendon by wedging.

wedge coping Same as featheredge coping.

weepers Statues of mourners sometimes incorporated into tombs.

weep hole 1. A small opening in a wall or window member, through which accumulated condensation or water may drain to the building exterior, as from the base of a cavity wall, a wall flashing, or a skylight. 2. A hole near the bottom of a retaining wall, backfilled with gravel or other free-draining material, to permit water to drain to the outside of the wall, so as to prevent the buildup of pressure behind the wall.

weep hole tile A tile, with a hole through it, used in the first course, 2 above a gutter in the roof. Water that passes through the hole drops directly into the gutter. See weep hole.

weeping cross A type of preaching cross especially used for public penance.

weft See carpet weft.

weight batching Measuring the constituent materials for mortar or concrete by weight, rather than by volume.

weight box In a window frame, the channel in which the sash weights move up and down.

weight pocket, weight space A weight box.

weighting network An electrical circuit that alters the sensitivity-vs-frequency characteristic of a sound level meter so as to improve the correlation between meter readings and the subjective judgment of noise by individuals. See the A-scale, which is the most widely used weighting network for measuring noise levels of equipment, in buildings, and in the community.

weld To unite metals by heating them to suitable temperatures, with or without the application of pressure, and with or without the use of filler metal.

weld axis A line through the length of a weld that is perpendicular in its cross section.

weld bead A weld deposit resulting from a single longitudinal progression of a welding operation along a joint.

weld decay Localized corrosion at or adjacent to a weld.

welded butt splice A reinforcing bar splice made by welding the butted ends.

welded cover plate A cover plate welded to a beam or girder.

welded joint A gastight joint obtained by uniting metal parts, such as iron and steel that require welding, in the plastic or molten state.

welded reinforcement Reinforcement which is joined by welding.

welded system A piping system for conveying fluids, in which all joints are welded, usually to make the system leakproof.

welded truss Any truss having its main members joined by welding.

welded tube Tube made from a metal plate, sheet, or strip, with welded longitudinal or helical joint.

welded-wire fabric, welded wire mesh A series of longitudinal and transverse wires arranged at right angles to each other and welded together at all points of intersection; used as reinforcement in reinforced concrete.

welded-wire fabric reinforcement The use of welded-wire fabric as reinforcement in concrete.

welded wire lath Same as wire lath.

weld gauge An instrument for checking the shape and size of welds.

welding cables A pair of electric cables supplying power from a welding machine to the work being done; one lead connects the machine with the electrode holder, the other lead connects the machine to the work.

welding nozzle A short length of pipe which is welded to a vessel at one end and is chamfered at the other end for butt welding.

welding rod Filler metal, in wire or rod form, used in gas welding and brazing processes and in those arc-welding processes wherein the electrode does not furnish the filler.

welding screw A screw provided with lugs or weld projections on the top or underside of the head to facilitate attachment to a metal part by resistance welding.

weldment Any assembly whose component parts are joined by welding.

weld metal The part of a weld that has been melted during welding.

weld nut A solid nut provided with lugs, annular rings, or embossments to facilitate its attachment to a metal part by resistance welding.

well-burnt Same as hard-burnt.

well, wellhole 1. The clear vertical space about which a stair turns; a stairwell. 2. The open vertical space between walls in which a stair or elevator is constructed. 3. Any enclosed space of small area but of considerable height, as an air shaft. well, 4. See bored well, dug well, etc.

well curb A protective structure around the top rim of a well, 4 to prevent objects from falling into it; also provides a convenient mounting surface for a mechanism for raising a water bucket.

well curbing Same as pit boards.

well-graded aggregate Aggregate having a particle-size distribution which will produce maximum density, i.e., minimum void space.

wellhole The open vertical space between walls in which a stair is constructed; see well, 1.

well house, wellhead A shelter over a water well, 4.

well point A hollow rod with a perforated intake at its lower end, which is pointed; driven into the ground and connected to a pump, to remove water at an excavation site.

well-point system A number of well points connected to a header, which is attached to a pump, to lower the water table at an excavation site.

well stair A stairwell in a well, 1.

Welsh arch Same as flat arch.

Welsh groin A groin formed by an underpitch vault.

Welsh vault See underpitch vault.

welt 1. In sheet-metal roofing, a seam which joins two sheets; formed by folding over the edges of the sheets, engaging the folded portions and then dressing them down flat. 2. A strip of wood fastened over a flush seam or joint, or an angle, to strengthen it.

welted drip A drip formed by roofing felt at the eaves or the rake edge of a roof; a strip is folded back to return on the roof, forming the drip.

welting strip In sheet-metal roofing, a strip having one edge fixed to the roof and the other edge bent to hold the lower edge of a vertical sheet. Also see stripping, 3.

west end The end of a church that is opposite the sanctuary; usually where the main doors are located; so called because medieval churches almost invariably had their sanctuaries at the east end.

west front The end wall of a medieval church, usually opposite the sanctuary, and usually where the main doors are located.

western frame See platform frame.

western framing A system of framing a building of wood construction in which all studs are only one story in height; the floor joists for each story rest on the top plates, 2 of the story below, except for the first story, which rests on the groundsill. The bearing walls and partitions rest on the subfloor (i.e., on the rough floor that serves as a base for the finish floor). Same as platform framing; compare with balloon framing.

western hemlock A straight-grained, moderately low-density softwood of the western US; white to yellowish brown in color and not as strong as Douglas fir; used for general construction and plywood.

western larch A moderately strong, heavy softwood of the western US with coarse-textured reddish brown wood; used in general building construction, as timbers and flooring.

western red cedar A durable, straight-grained, moderately low-density wood of the western US; used extensively for construction where durability is important, esp. for shingles and shakes. Also called thuya.

Western Stick style A type of one-story timber-framed house representing the finest of the Craftsman style, developed in California between about 1905 and the 1920s, exemplified in the work of Greene and Greene, Architects, who carried their architectural details to a high art; compare with Stick style.

West Indian mahogany See carapa.

westwork At the west end of a Romanesque church, a tower-like structure having a low entrance hall; the room above it is open to the nave.

wet-alarm valve A valve that (a) permits the flow of water into a wet-pipe sprinkler system, (b) prevents the reverse flow of water, and (c) incorporates provisions for actuating an alarm under specified flow conditions.

wet-bulb depression The difference between dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures.

wet-bulb temperature The temperature of a thermometer in which the bulb is enclosed in a wick that is kept moistened.

wet-bulb thermometer In a psychrometer, the thermometer whose bulb is kept moistened.

wet cleaning In the removal of asbestos, the process of eliminating asbestos contamination by using mops, cloths, and other cleaning tools which have been wetted; these items are then disposed of as asbestos-contaminated waste.

wet construction Any construction, e.g., a wall, using materials (such as concrete, mortar, plaster, etc.) which are installed or applied in other than a dry condition.

wet glazing A method of sealing glass in a frame by the use of a glazing compound or sealant which is applied with a knife or gun.

wet hide Same as hiding power of a paint.

wet mix Concrete containing a high proportion of water, as evidenced by its runny consistency when still in the unhardened state.

wet-mix shotcrete A shotcrete in which all the ingredients (including water) are mixed before they are fed into the delivery hose.

wet-on-wet painting A technique of spray painting a second coat before the previous coat has dried.

wet-pipe sprinkler system A fire sprinkler system consisting of a network of pipes containing water under pressure. Automatic sprinklers are connected to piping so that each sprinkler (head) protects an assigned area of coverage; the water discharges immediately from any sprinkler opened by the heat of a fire.

wet riser A wet standpipe.

wet rot The decay of timber having a high moisture content, as a result of the attack of fungi.

wet screening, wet sieving Screening to remove from fresh concrete, in the plastic state, all aggregate particles larger than a certain size.

wet sieving See wet screening.

wet sprinkler system Same as wet-pipe sprinkler system.

wet stable consistency The consistency of cement grout or mortar at which it contains the maximum water without sloughing.

wet standpipe system A standpipe system completely filled with water at a pressure required for immediate discharge and use.

wet storage stain Same as white rust.

wet strength The strength of an adhesive joint determined immediately after removal from a liquid in which it has been immersed.

wet system See wet-pipe sprinkler system.

wetting In soldering or brazing, the spreading of a liquid filler metal or flux on a solid base metal.

wetting agent A substance capable of lowering the surface tension of liquids, facilitating the wetting of solid surfaces, and permitting the penetration of liquids into the capillaries.

wet trades Those building trades which use dry building materials that are mixed with water; for example concrete, mortar, and plaster.

wet-use adhesive In glue-laminated timber, adhesives which perform satisfactorily under a wide variety of conditions including exposure to the weather, dry use, marine use, and pressure treatment.

wet vent A pipe, usually oversized, which functions both as a fixture branch and as a vent, e.g., a soil or waste pipe that also serves as a vent.

wet wall See wet construction.

WF Abbr. for “wide flange.”

WG Abbr. for “wire gauge.”

WH Abbr. for water heater.

whaleback roof 1. Same as ship’s bottom roof. 2. Same as compass roof. 3. Same as rainbow roof.

whale house In the early 18th century, a simple house especially favored by whalers of Massachusetts. At the rear of the house there was a kitchen with a small bedroom on each side. The kitchen fireplace was usually on the opposite side of the principal fireplace in the hall, 1 of the dwelling.

whaler See wale.

wheat-threshing barn See bank barn.

wheelbarrow A handcart usually fitted with one wheel in front and two supporting legs in back; and with two handles; used for transporting materials over short distances.

wheelchair accessible A term sometimes used in place of accessible, with regard to meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, in situations where the facilities do not meet the accessibility requirements of all aspects of the Act.

wheel ditcher Same as wheel trencher.

wheeler Same as winder.

wheelhouse A circular structure containing a horse-driven threshing machine for wheat; often attached to a barn.

wheeling step Same as winder.

wheel step, wheeling step A winder.

wheel tracery Tracery radiating from a center, as the spokes of a wheel.

wheel window A large circular window on which the radiation of tracery from the center is suggested; a variety of rose window; a Catherine wheel window.

whetstone A piece of stone, natural or artificial, used to sharpen cutting tools.

Whipple truss A double-intersection Pratt truss; has diagonal tension members and vertical compression members.

whirley crane A large crane which can revolve 360°.

whispering gallery, whispering dome A large dome or vault that reflects sounds (esp. high frequencies) along a large concave surface so that even whispers may be heard some distance away.

white cement A pure calcite limestone cement, similar in properties to ordinary cement, but ground finer and of higher grade.

white coat A gauged lime-putty, troweled, plaster finish coat.

white deal, white fir See spruce.

white lauan See Philippine mahogany.

white lead Basic lead carbonate, used as a white opaque pigment in exterior house paints; also used in ceramics and putty; available either as a dry powder or as a mixture of turpentine and linseed oil in paste form.

white lead putty A high-quality putty containing at least 10% white lead mixed with calcium carbonate and linseed oil.

white lime 1. Same as high-calcium lime. 2. Same as pure lime.

white mahogany See avodire.

whitening In the grain of finished wood, a white appearance, usually due to improper finishing techniques or spotty adhesion of the coating.

white noise Noise having a flat spectrum over the frequency range of interest; the acoustic power per unit-frequency is substantially independent of frequency.

white oak A hard, heavy, durable wood, gray to reddish brown in color; esp. used for flooring, paneling, and trim.

white pine A soft, light wood; works easily; does not split when nailed; does not swell or warp appreciably; widely used in building construction.

white portland cement A portland cement, produced from raw materials low in iron, which hydrates to a white paste; used to yield a concrete of considerable whiteness.

whiteprint A reproduction of a construction drawing in which black lines appear on a white background. Compare with blueprint.

white rot A type of decay in wood caused by a fungus that leaves a white residue.

white rust White corrosion products (such as zinc oxide) on zinc-coated articles.

white spirit Petroleum ether, distilled from crude oil; used as a solvent, esp. in varnishes.

white spots See water spotting.

white walnut See butternut.

whitewash An impermanent coating applied with a brush on walls to give them a white appearance; usually a mixture of hydrated lime and water; once typically consisted of a mixture of ground-up chalk (whiting), lime, flour, glue, and water, sometimes with addition of tallow or soap.

whitewood Same as tulipwood, 1.

whiting Calcium carbonate pigment; used as an extender in paint, in putty, and in whitewash.

whole-brick wall A brick wall, the thickness of which is equal to the length of one brick.

whole pitch The pitch of a gable roof whose vertical rise is equal to the span.

whole timber A squared timber; a balk.

WHSE On drawings, abbr. for warehouse.

WI 1. On drawings, abbr. for wrought iron. 2. On drawings, abbr. for “water inlet.”

wicket A small door or gate, esp. one forming part of a larger one.

wicking The action of absorption by means of capillary action.

wickiup Same as wikiup.

wide-flange beam A structural beam of rolled steel or concrete having a shape whose cross section resembles the letter H; has wider flanges than an I-beam.

wide-ringed, coarse-grained, open-grained Descriptive of wood having wide annual rings, due to rapid growth; in softwood, usually weaker than narrow-ringed wood.

wide-throw hinge A rectangular hinge with extra-wide leaves for clearance.

wide tolerance A tolerance greater than standard tolerance.

widow’s walk A flat roof deck or raised observation platform sometimes having a view of the sea, situated on the roof of a house and enclosed by a balustrade or railing; the horizontal roof surface is usually formed by truncating the top of a hipped roof; also called a captain’s walk.

wiggle nail A corrugated fastener.

wiggling-in See range-in.

wigwam An Indian dwelling in the American Northeast, found in a variety of shapes; commonly, a domed structure having a framework of saplings set into the ground, bent over, and bound together. This framework was covered with a watertight surface of overlapping matting or animal skins. A hole at the top of the wigwam provided an escape for smoke from the firepit below; an opening at the side served as an entrance. Compare with tipi.

wikiup A relatively small, temporary, round dwelling of the Apache Indians of the American Southwest; could be reassembled relatively easily and quickly; had a lightweight framework formed by saplings lashed together at their tops so as to form either a domed structure or a conical structure. Additional poles were placed along the sides of the framework to provide added structural strength; the framework was covered with a matting.

will The word will is used in connection with acts and actions required of the owner or of the architect/engineer; it is used by the owner or purchaser as a self-imposed requirement; denotes the information the owner will supply, documents the owner will review, and approvals the owner will issue—all at the proper time.

Williot diagram A graphical method of determining the deflections of a framed structure under load.

Wilton carpet A velvet cut-pile carpet, woven with loops on a Jacquard loom, usually having excellent wearing qualities.

winch A machine for pulling or lifting heavy weights. It has a rotating drum around which a pulling line or rope is turned; a hoist, 2.

wind 1. British term for twist. 2. A once-used synonym for warped or wined.

windage loss A loss of fine droplets of water which are entrained by circulating air; this loss of water in a system (e.g., in the cooling tower of an air-conditioning system) is replaced by makeup water; usually expressed as a percentage of the circulation rate.

wind beam A collar beam.

wind box A plenum from which air for combustion is supplied to a stoker, gas burner, or oil burner.

wind brace Any brace, such as a strut, which strengthens a structure or framework against the wind; usually a brace between a principal rafter and a purlin to provide the roof framing with greater rigidity.

windbreak A dense growth of trees, fence, wall or the like, which provides protection against the wind, esp. to gardens and buildings.

wind catcher Same as wind scoop.

wind-cut tree A tree shaped by the force of a strong wind.

winder, wheel step A step, more or less wedge-shaped, with its tread wider at one end than the other, as in a spiral stair.

wind filling Same as beam fill.

wind force Same as wind load.

wind guard 1. Any construction which provides protection against the wind, as a chimney cap, 2. 2. Same as draft fillet. 3. A draft bead.

winding-drum machine On elevators, a gear-driven machine having a drum to which the wire ropes that hoist the car are fastened, and on which they wind.

winding stair 1. Any stair constructed chiefly or entirely of winders. 2. See screw stair.

winding strips, winding sticks Two short sticks or strips of wood having parallel edges, placed on a surface to test it for flatness.

windlass A modification of the wheel and axle used for lifting weights; usually an axle, turned by a crank, and a rope or chain wound around the axle for raising the weight.

wind load The total force exerted by the wind on a structure or part of a structure.

windmill A large machine in which the wind acts on a number of vanes or blades, rotating them about an axis, thereby producing mechanical power; once widely used for grinding grain, sawing timber, and pumping water. The earliest windmills in America (similar to those in the Netherlands) had four very large, slowly moving blades that were cloth-covered, and required the constant attendance of an operator. In 1854, a patent was issued for an entirely new type of windmill, having a large number of small blades, which was self-regulating and could operate without human intervention; this feature greatly increased its practical application, especially for pumping water. In the latter part of the 20th century, large two-bladed windmills have been assembled in large groups called “farms” for the environment-friendly generation of electrical power.

window An opening, generally in an external wall of a building, to admit light and provide ventilation; usually glazed. The framework in which the glass is set is called a sash; a flat sheet of glass, cut to fit a window, or part of a window, is called a pane. Many early glazed openings had fixed lights (i.e., could not be opened); others were a combination of fixed lights and a casement window that opened outward. For various types of windows, see angled bay window, art window, awning window, band window, bay window, blank window, bow window, bull’s-eye window, camber window, cant-bay window, cantilevered window, cant window, casement window, Chicago window, circle-head window, circular window, clerestory window, compass window, cottage window, cross window, dead window, diamond window, Diocletian window, dormant window, dormer window, double-hung window, double-lancet window, drop-head window, D-window, eyebrow window, false window, fanlight, flank window, French window, frieze-band window, frieze window, gable window, hopper window, jalousie, jib window, lancet window, landscape window, lattice window, leaded window, leper’s squint, louver window, low-side window, lucarne, lucome window, Lutheran window, lynchnoscope, marigold window, oculus, oeil-de-boeuf, operable window, oriel, oval window, Palladian window, peak-head window, picture window, pivot window, pocket-head window, reversible window, ribbon window, rose window, round-topped window, sash window, semicircular window, serliana window, single-hung window, skylight, sliding window, sliphead window, square-headed window, stationary window, stepped windows, storm window, three-part window, transom window, trellis window, tripartite window, triple-hung window, Venetian window, wheel window, Yorkshire light.

window apron A plain or molded wood strip which covers the edge of the plastering below a window stool.

window back The inside face of the portion of wall between the windowsill and the floor below.

window band Same as ribbon window.

window bar 1. A muntin. 2. A glazing bar. 3. A bar which prevents ingress or egress through a window. 4. A bar for securing a casement or window shutters.

window bay A bay window.

window bead See inside stop, draft bead.

window blind A shade, blind, shade screen, or shutter, 1 for a window.

window board Same as window stool.

window bole A small, nonglazed wall opening, usually shuttered, to let in light and air.

window box Same as weight box.

window casing The finished frame surrounding a window; the visible frame.

window catch A fastening device, fixed to a window sash, to prevent it from being opened from the outside.

window-cill Same as windowsill.

window cleaner’s anchor A fitting attached securely to the outside of a window frame (or to the wall just outside the frame) to which a window cleaner fastens a safety belt.

window cleaner’s platform A platform operated manually or by power and suspended by cables or ropes from roof assemblies; used to support window cleaners and maintenance personnel.

window configuration The shape, number, and relationship of glass lights, mullions, mutins, tracery, and/or window frames; also see fenestration.

window crown The upper termination of a window, such as a pediment; often decorative.

window divider See mullion and muntin.

window dressing The trim, 2, usually of wood or stone, around a window.

window frame The fixed, nonoperable frame of a window designed to receive and hold the sash or casement and all necessary hardware.

window furniture Same as window hardware.

window glass, sheet glass A soda-lime-silica glass; in the US fabricated in continuous flat sheets up to 6 ft (1.83 m) wide, in thicknesses from 0.05 to 0.22 in. (1.27 to 5.59 mm); graded AA, A, and B according to quality, but the actual quality depends on the manufacturer.

window glazing bar Same as muntin.

window guard 1. A window bar, 2. 2. A metal protective grille, often of elaborate, decorative character.

window hardware Devices, fittings, or mechanisms for opening, closing, supporting, holding open, or locking the sashes, including such items as catches, chains, cords, fasteners, hinges, lifts, locks, pivots, pulls, pulleys, sash balances, sash weights, and stays.

window head The upper horizontal cross member of a window frame.

window jack Same as builder’s jack.

window jack scaffold A scaffold the platform of which is supported by a bracket or jack which projects through a window opening.

window lead A slender bar or rod of lead, cast with grooves to receive the glass in a window.

window ledge Same as windowsill.

window lift, sash lift A handle, or the like, secured to a sliding sash (usually the lower rail) to assist in raising or lowering it.

windowlight A pane, 1 of glass which has been installed in a window; a windowpane.

window lining See lining.

window lock Same as sash lock.

windowpane In a window, a pane, 1.

window post In a framed building, one of the solid uprights between which the window frame is set, often two studs nailed together.

window pull Same as sash pull.

window sash See sash.

window schedule A tabulation, usually on a blueprint or in specifications, which lists all windows required on a construction job, indicating the sizes, number of lights, types, locations, and special requirements.

window screen 1. See insect screen. 2. An ornamental grille or lattice fitted into a window opening.

window seat 1. A seat built into the bottom inside of a window. 2. A seat located at a window.

window shutter See shutter, 1.

windowsill See sill, 3.

window space The total window area in a room or building.

window spring bolt A spring bolt which fixes a sash (which is not counterbalanced) in any selected position.

window stile See pulley stile.

window stool, window board, elbow board A horizontal board on a windowsill, fitted against the bottom rail of the lower sash and between the sash frame stiles; forms a base on which the casing rests; usually of wood, but may be of metal or other facing material.

window stop Same as sash stop.

window surround A decorative element or structure on the exterior wall surface around a window. (See illustration p. 1074.)

window trim The casing around a window; the interior decorative finishing elements.

window unit A complete window, with sashes (ventilators, 2) or casements, ready for shipment or installation in a building.

window wall A type of curtain wall, usually composed of vertical and horizontal metal framing members containing fixed lights, operable windows, or opaque panels, or a combination thereof.

window weight See sash weight.

window well The clear space created by a soil-retaining structure located immediately below a window whose sill height is lower than the adjacent ground level.

window yoke A window head which ties together the pulley stiles.

wind pressure The pressure on a surface produced by the wind blowing against it.

windproof Same as windtight.

wind scoop, wind catcher A device, especially found in hot regions of the Middle East, that ventilates a house by the use of wind. A small tower on the roof contains an opening that faces the prevailing wind, which is at a cooler temperature than the interior of the house. Because the wind velocity at this opening is greater than it is at the lower windows of the house, air in the shaft of the tower is forced down the shaft to cool the house.

wind shake A crack or fissure in timber caused, during growth, by wind strain.

wind-speed rating The highest wind speed that a wall is capable of withstanding.

wind stop 1. A weather strip used around a door or window. 2. A strip, usually of wood or metal, covering the joint between a sash or casement and the adjacent stile. 3. A wood or metal strip covering a crack of any type in a building to prevent wind from blowing in.

windtight Descriptive of construction in which all openings and cracks have been carefully sealed, using weather strips.

wind uplift A negative force (i.e., an upward pull) which acts on a roof because of wind.

wine cellar, wine vault A storage room for wine, usually underground so as to be cool and dark.

wing 1. A subsidiary part of a building extending out from the main portion. 2. In a theater, the offstage space at the side of the acting area. 3. One of the four leaves of a revolving door.

wing balcony That part of a balcony which extends along the sidewalls of an auditorium, toward the stage.

wing compass A compass having an arc-shaped piece (which is attached to one leg) which passes through the opposite leg and which may be clamped with a set screw to a desired opening.

wing dividers A pair of dividers, similar in construction to a wing compass.

winged bull An Assyrian symbol of force and domination, of frequent occurrence in ancient Assyrian architectural sculpture; pairs of winged human-headed bulls and lions of colossal size usually guarded the portals of palaces.

winged disk In Egyptian Revival architecture, same as sun disk.

winglight See side light, 1.

wing nut A nut having projections so that it can be tightened with one finger and the thumb.

wing pile A bearing pile (usually of concrete) which widens at the top.

wing screw A screw having a wing-shaped head, designed for manual turning without a driver or wrench.

wing wall A subordinate wall, one end of which is built against an abutment; usually acts as support for the abutment and as a retaining wall.

wiped joint A solder joint made by pouring molten solder onto the joint, and then wiping the joint with a cloth or with a small paddle so as to shape the joint as required.

wire A filament or slender rod of drawn metal.

wire brad A brad, 1.

wire cloth A stiff fabric of fine woven wire; used in screens for excluding insects, in sieves, etc.; in the US, the number of openings per square inch is called the mesh.

wire comb, wire scratcher A tool for scratching a plaster base coat in order to improve the bond of the next coat.

wire-cut brick Clay that has been cut by wires and then burnt in a kiln at an elevated temperature.

wire duct Conduit or tubing used to encase electrical wire or rope.

wired glass See wire glass.

wire gauge 1. An instrument for measuring the thickness of wire or sheet metal; usually consists of a steel plate having a series of notches, of standard opening sizes, around the edge. 2. One of several systems for specifying the diameter of a wire.

wire gauze Wire cloth of fine texture.

wire glass, wired glass, safety glass Sheet glass containing wire mesh embedded between the two faces to prevent shattering in the event of breakage.

wire height Same as carpet pile height.

wire holder An electrical insulator having a mounting screw or mounting bolt and a hole for securing a conductor.

wire lath Wire welded to form a netting, usually with a paper backing; used as a base for plaster.

wire mesh See welded-wire fabric.

wire mesh partition Same as mesh partition.

wire nail A nail made of wire, esp. a finishing nail or the like.

wire nut A mechanical connector for wires which are small in size; consists of an insulating cap over a threaded or coiled metal insert; the wires to be connected are stripped of insulation at their ends and inserted in the wire nut; then the wire nut is turned by hand until the wires are securely joined.

wire rope A rope usually fabricated of twisted strands of wire, usually laid over a core.

wire saw An assembly for sawing stone by a rapidly moving continuous wire that carries a slurry of sand or other abrasive material.

wire scratcher Same as wire comb.

wire size In the US, a size, usually stated in terms of American Wire Gauge (AWG) and/or thousand circular mills (MCM) which applies to copper conductors.

wire tie Same as tie wire.

wireway Same as raceway.

wire wrapping A high-tensile wire which is wound, under tension, around concrete tension-resisting structural components, circular concrete walls, and the like.

wiring box In interior electric wiring, a box, usually of metal, installed at each outlet, junction point, or switch (except for exposed wiring on insulators); classified as a floor box, outlet box, sectional switch box, or utility box.

wiring channel A metal housing; see, illustration for a fluorescent lamp.

wiring device Any electrical device used to control and to provide connection points for low-voltage outlets, lighting systems, and appliances (e.g., wall switches and receptacles).

witch door A door whose lowest panels form a capital letter X; once thought by some to ward off evil spirits; compare with Christian door.

witch’s hat 1. A conical roof with an especially steep slope. 2. Same as bonnet roof.

withdrawing room An obsolete term for drawing room.

withe, wythe 1. A partition dividing two flues in the same chimney stack. 2. A flexible, slender twig or branch; an osier; esp. used to tie down thatching on roofs. 3. Each continuous vertical section of wall, one masonry unit in thickness.

with-the-bed cut Same as fleuri cut.

witness corner A marker set on a property line, near, but not on, a corner; used where it would be impracticable or impossible to maintain a monument at the corner itself.

WK 1. On drawings, abbr. for “week.” 2. On drawings, abbr. for “work.”

W/O On drawings, abbr. for “without.”

wobble friction In prestressed concrete, the friction caused by the unintended deviation of the prestressing tendon from its specified profile.

wobble saw A drunken saw.

women’s room See ladies’ room.

wood The hard fibrous substance which composes the trunk and branches of a tree, lying between the pith and bark.

wood block 1. One of many small, solid-wood blocks having plane faces, set in mastic, usually on a concrete floor slab, to form a durable floor finish. 2. A solid piece of wood placed in a concrete formwork to prevent movement of the formwork or to fill a space.

wood brick, fixing brick, nailing block 1. A piece of wood the size and shape of a brick; inserted in brickwork to serve as a means of attaching finishings, etc. 2. See nog.

wood-cement concrete A concrete mixture using sawdust and small chips of wood as the aggregate; finished as a relatively smooth surface without visible voids.

wood chimney A chimney built of wood boards or timbers and then plastered on its interior, usually with clay, to provide a measure of fire protection. Because of its susceptibility to ignite, its use had been limited to areas where bricks and stone were not readily available. See clay-and-sticks chimney.

wood chipboard See particleboard.

wood chisel A tool having a flat cutting edge with a long stiff handle; used to cut or remove chips or strips of wood by striking the end of the handle repeatedly with a hammer, or the like.

wood dough A synthetic wood, usually made with wood fibers; used as a filler.

wood failure In plywood, the area of wood fiber remaining at the glueline following completion of a specified shear test.

wood-fibered plaster A mill-mixed gypsum plaster containing wood fiber; used neat or with one part of sand to one part of plaster, by weight, for greater strength.

wood-fiber insulation Thermal insulation made from wood fibers.

wood-fiber slab A slab composed of a mixture of excelsior and cement which is not tightly compacted; used as a base for plaster, where good thermal insulation is required.

wood filler A liquid or paste composition used to fill the pores of a wood surface before varnishing or waxing.

wood finishing The planing, sanding, and subsequent staining, varnishing, waxing, or painting of a wood surface.

wood fire-retardant treatment The impregnation of wood or wood products with a fire-retardant chemical, under pressure, to reduce their flammability or combustibility.

wood flooring Flooring consisting of standard dressed and matched boards.

wood flour A finely ground, dried wood powder; used in the molding of plastics, in plastic wood, and as an extender in some glues.

wood form See form.

wood-frame construction Building construction in which exterior walls, load-bearing walls and partitions, floor and roof constructions, and their supports, are all built of wood. See balloon framing, iron framing, platform framing, post-and-beam framing, post-and-girt framing, western framing; also see timber-framed building, timber-framed house. Compare with steel-frame construction.

wood-framed house See timber-framed house.

woodgraining Same as false woodgraining.

wood-grain print A simulated wood-grain pattern, applied with patterned rolls to various wood-base substrates, such as hardboard and low-grade plywood.

wood ground Same as ground, 1.

wood gutter A gutter, 1 along the eaves of a roof, usually made of boards but sometimes made of a solid piece of wood.

wood joint A joint formed by two boards, timbers, or sheets of wood that are held together by nails, fasteners, pegs, or the like. For specific types of wood joints, see broken joint, butt joint, cogged joint, dado joint, dovetail joint, extruded joint, finger joint, half-dovetail, half-lap joint, hewn-and-peg joint, housed joint, mortise-and-tenon joint, rabbet joint, scarf joint, shiplap joint, spalled joint, spline joint, straight joint, tongue-and-groove joint.

woodland A tract of land dominated by trees but often containing shrubs and other vegetation as well.

wood lath One of many thin narrow strips of wood that serve as a base for plaster; usually nailed at regular intervals to studs or to boards in walls and ceilings. Until the early 19th century, wood lath was hand-split from larger pieces of wood; later, such strips were usually cut with circular saws, providing slats of relatively uniform width and thickness. Wood lath as a base for plaster in new construction has now been replaced in most countries by expanded-metal lath.

wood moisture Same as moisture content, 1.

wood molding See WP-series molding pattern.

wood mosaic 1. See mosaic, 2. 2. See par quetry.

wood nog See nog.

wood oil 1. See tung oil. 2. An oleoresin used for caulking and waterproofing.

wood preservative A chemical used to prevent or retard the decay of wood, esp. by fungi or insects; widely used preservatives include creosote, pitch, sodium fluoride, and tar; esp. used on wood having contact with the ground.

wood rasp Same as rasp.

wood roll See roll, 1.

wood rosin See rosin.

wood screw A helically threaded metal fastener having a pointed end; forms its own mating thread when driven into wood or other resilient materials.

wood shingle A thin roofing unit of wood, usually cut from green wood and then kiln-dried, either split along the grain or cut to stock lengths, widths, and thicknesses; used as an exterior covering on sloping roofs and on side walls and applied in an overlapping fashion. Also see shingle.

wood sill See sill.

wood slip A wood ground, 1.

wood stud anchor, nailing anchor A metal piece or clip which is attached to the inside of a doorframe and secures the frame to a wood stud partition.

wood treatment 1. See fire-retardant wood. 2. Treatment with a wood preservative.

wood turning See turning.

wood turpentine, oil of turpentine A turpentine made by the distillation of sawdust, wood chips, and waste wood; except for its characteristic odor, it differs little from true turpentine.

wood veneer Same as veneer, 1.

wood window A wood or wood-clad frame, with or without a ventilating sash, which accommodates glazing.

wood-wool See excelsior.

wood-wool slab A rigid composition board, fabricated of excelsior (wood-wool) and cement.

woodwork Work produced by the carpenter’s and joiner’s art, generally applied to parts of objects or structures in wood rather than the complete structure.

woodworker’s vise A vise, at the front edge of a workbench, for holding a piece of wood while it is being worked on; has jaws which are flush with the bench surface.

woolly grain The condition on the surface of a timber resulting from a cutting operation in which the wood fibers have been pulled to the surface instead of being cut cleanly.

work 1. All labor necessary to produce the construction required by the contract documents, and all materials and equipment incorporated or to be incorporated in such construction. 2. The produce of a force by its corresponding displacement.

workability 1. That property of freshly mixed concrete, plaster, or mortar which determines the ease and homogeneity with which it can be mixed, applied, compacted, spread, or finished; placeability. 2. The degree of ease of cutting and quality of cut that can be obtained in various woods with hand tools or machines.

work edge, face edge, working edge In carpentry, the first edge to be planed smooth; the edge from which other edges are measured or trued.

worked lumber Lumber that, in addition to being dressed, has been matched, shiplapped, or patterned.

work end In carpentry, the first end to be planed smooth.

worker’s hoist A hoisting and lowering mechanism equipped with a platform that moves in guides in a substantially vertical direction; used primarily for raising and lowering workers to various working levels when a building is under construction.

work face, face side, working face In carpentry, the first surface to be planed smooth; the surface from which the others are measured or trued.

workhouse 1. An institution for confining individuals sentenced to terms usually less than one year. 2. (Brit.) A poorhouse.

working The alternate swelling and shrinking in seasoned wood, resulting from moisture content changes that occur with changes in relative humidity of the surrounding air; also called movement.

working drawings Drawings, intended for use by a contractor, subcontractor, or fabricator, which form part of the contract documents for a building project; contain the necessary information to manufacture or erect an object or structure.

working edge See work edge.

working face See work face.

working life The period of time during which a liquid resin or adhesive, after mixing with catalyst, solvent, or other ingredients, remains usable; pot life.

working load, service load The load, 1 which a structure is expected to sustain and for which it is designed; cannot exceed the allowable load.

working point On a construction drawing, a point which is designated as a reference for other points.

working rail See fly rail.

working stage A partially enclosed portion of an assembly room or building, cut off from the audience section by a proscenium wall, and which is equipped with scenery loft, gridiron, fly gallery, and lighting equipment; the minimum depth from the proscenium curtain to the back wall may be specified by code.

working stress The maximum permissible stress under actual working conditions.

working stress design A method of design in which structures or members are proportioned for prescribed working loads at stresses which are well below their ultimate values; linear distribution of flexural stresses is assumed.

work light In the theater, a light used to provide illumination for rehearsing, scene shifting, or other work onstage or backstage.

workmen’s compensation insurance Insurance covering liability of an employer to his employees for compensation and other benefits required by workmen’s compensation laws with respect to injury, sickness, disease, or death arising from their employment.

work order See notice to proceed.

work place That part of the usable floor area of a building that is intended for an individual or group of people to work in.

work plane The plane at which work is usually done, at which the illumination is specified and measured; usually assumed to be a horizontal plane about 30 in. (76 cm) above the floor.

works British term for factory.

workshop A building or room used for handicraft work.

work station A space in a building, all or part of a work place, where an assigned task is performed; such spaces are often created by partitions or by the arrangement of furniture or equipment on the floor.

worm fence Same as zigzag fence.

wormhole, bore hole A hole or tunnel of any size in wood caused by worms.

wound paint A type of paint used to cover extensive wounds to a tree, especially after it has been damaged by a storm or following pruning.

woven board See interlaced fencing.

woven carpet A carpet which is constructed on a loom by interlacing the carpet warp and filling threads, e.g., Axminster, velvet, or Wilton carpet.

woven fencing See interwoven fencing.

woven valley See laced valley.

woven-wire fabric A prefabricated steel reinforcement for reinforced concrete; composed of cold-drawn steel wires mechanically twisted together to form hexagonally shaped openings.

woven-wire reinforcement See welded-wire fabric.

WP 1. On drawings, abbr. for waterproof. 2. On drawings, abbr. for “weatherproof.”

WP-series molding pattern One of a large number of profiles of commercially available moldings listed by the Western Wood Products Association.

wrack 1. The lowest grade of softwood. 2. A cull.

wraparound astragal See overlapping astragal.

wraparound frame Same as keyed-in frame.

wraparound porch A full-width porch that continues around the sides of a house.

wreath 1. The curved portion of the string or handrail which follows a turn in a geometrical stair, usually a quarter circle, and therefore corresponds to a portion of the surface of a vertical cylinder; also called a wreath piece. 2. A twisted band, garland, or chaplet, representing flowers, fruits, leaves, etc.; often used in decoration.

wreathed column A column entwined by a band which presents a twisted or spiral appearance.

wreathed stair Same as geometrical stair.

wreathed string See wreath, 1.

wreath piece A curved section of a stair string; a wreath, 1.

wrecking The act of demolishing or razing a structure.

wrecking ball, skull cracker A heavy steel ball used in structural demolition; usually swung or dropped from a crane or derrick.

wrecking bar See pinch bar.

wrecking strip A small piece or panel which is fitted into a concrete formwork assembly in such a way that it can be removed easily, ahead of the main panels or forms, thereby making it easier to strip those major form components.

wrench A hand tool consisting of a metal handle with a jaw at one end which is designed to fit the head of a bolt or nut (or to grasp a pipe or rod) so that it may be turned.

Wrightian An imprecise term suggestive of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) and some of his followers. Wright cannot be characterized by a single architectural style; for example, some of his early buildings, closely associated with the Prairie School, differ markedly from his later designs. Also see Organic architecture and Prairie style.