stringcourse

[ string-kawrs, -kohrs ]

noun

, Architecture.

1. a horizontal band or course, as of stone, projecting beyond or flush with the face of a building, often molded and sometimes richly carved.

Word History and Origins

Origin of stringcourse¹

First recorded in 1815–25; string + course

Example Sentences

Oh, go soak your stringcourse, WPA.

From Los Angeles Times

F. Fecit Anno Gratiæ MCCCCL'—occupies every arch and stringcourse of the architecture, and whose coat-of-arms and portrait in medallion, with his cipher and his emblems of an elephant and a rose, are wrought in every piece of sculptured work throughout the building, seems so to fill this house of prayer that there is no room left for God.

From Project Gutenberg

Below these, and resting upon the long stringcourse that runs above the great arches, are sets of seven trefoil-headed niches, with a half-niche at each end.

From Project Gutenberg

The loftiest of the stages of this arcading has a sub-division with round arches; and the stage above the great stringcourse has round-headed trefoils so as to be in keeping with the row of similar arches in the gables; but with these two exceptions all the arches on the arcades of the tower are pointed and without cusps.

From Project Gutenberg

There was never any ambulatory round the apse outside; we can still see, from the new building, portions of a stringcourse which was external, as well as other evidences that the apse was the end of the church.

From Project Gutenberg