York Guides

Glossary
ALMONRY Building or room from which alms were given to the poor and sick.
AUMBRY Cupboard or recess in the thickness of a wall.
BUTTRESS Masonry (or brickwork) built against a wall for additional strength.
CELLARER Monastic official in charge of provisioning the monastery.
CHAPTER HOUSE The room in which the monks met daily for monastic business when an article or chapter (capitulum) of the monastic rule was read.
CLERESTOREY Upper storey of the nave whose windows admitted light to the central part of the church.
CORBEL Stone bracket projecting from a wall.
DAY STAIRS Daytime access from the dormitory to the cloister.
DORTER Dormitory.
PRATER Refectory or dining hall.
GARTH Area enclosed by the cloister.
HOODMOULD Weathering or drip-stone protecting the head of door or window.
LANCET Narrow window with a pointed head.
LAVER Trough with running water where monks washed their hands before meals.
LAY BRETHREN Monks not in Holy Orders who performed manual labour.

MISERICORD Room in a monastery where it was permitted to eat meat.

NIGHT STAIRS Access from the dormitory direct into the church, used by monks for night offices.
PARLOUR Room in which conversation was allowed.
PENTISE A penthouse or lean-to, often used as a passage.
PISCINA Small basin in a wall beside an altar, used for cleansing the sacramental vessels.
PRESBYTERY Part of the eastern arm of the church containing the principal altar and reserved for the clergy.
PULPITUM Partition between nave and choir.
REBUS A representation of a name or word by pictures.
REREDORTER Building containing latrines, usually flushed by a channel of running water.
REREDOS Ornamental screen behind an altar.
RESPOND Half-column or half-capital, attached to a wall where it is joined by an arch.
ROOD SCREEN Division between nave and choir west of the pulpitum and surmounted by a crucifix.
SACRISTY Place for keeping the sacred vessels and vestments.
SPRINGER Lowest stone of an arch or vaulting rib.
STOUP Basin.
STRING COURSE Horizontal band of masonry.
TRIFORIUM Wall passage between the main arcade and clerestorey.

UNDERCROFT Chamber, usually vaulted, supporting a principal chamber above.
WARMING HOUSE Room in a monastery where a communal fire was kept burning during the winter months.