VAGINA, (Latin, ) the lower part of a Terminus, resem-phng a sheath, in which the lower part of the statue isinserted.
VALLEY, (from the Latin , vallis, a hollow,) the internalan gle of two inclined sides of a roof.
Valley-Board, a board fixed upon a valley-rafter for theteaden gutter to lie upon.
Valley-Rafter, the rafter under the valley, or that whichSu pports the valley.
It is evident, that since the internal angle is above ther °of, the external angle is under it; and, in hip-rafters,*hat since the external angle is outward, the internal angle is’nward ; therefore, the hipped angles will be stronger than:|'6 valleys, and consequently require timbers of less scant-lln g to support them. This circumstance should be attendedf° in the description or particulars of a building, as theJudgment of the architect will be shown in such discri-minations.
Valley-Rafters, in old books, are called sleepers ; but inta *s sense the term is antiquated. See Sleepers.
. Valley-Pieces, the same as Valley-Rafters. The term
Used in some parts of the country, particularly in Devon-s «ire.
VALLUM, a rampart or raised wall or mound erected for
ae purpose of defence.
Valved, anything that opens upon hinges.
VANE, a plate of metal turning on a vertical spindle, and^ x ed on the summit of a tower, spire, or other elevated
U'lding, to show the direction of the wind. The custom ofP'acing vanes on church-steeples is very ancient; and as theyI'mt'e commonly made to represent the figure of a cock, theyj| a ye been thence termed weather-cocks. In late Gothic
U'ldings, they frequently present the appearance of littleQa S s , perforated with heraldic devices, &c.
Vanishing line, in perspective, the intersection of
° e Parallel of any original plane with the picture...Vanishing Point, that point to which all parallel lines inae same plane tend in the representation.a VARIATION OF CURVATURE , the change made on.^curve, so as to make it quicker or flatter in every succeed-S part; as the curvature of the quarter of an ellipsis ter-ln ated by the two axes is continually quicker from the^emity of the greater axis to that of the lesser.
I -A-RIETY, (from the Latin, vario , to change,) the agree-* disposition of the parts of an edifice.g^’ARNISH, a preparation used to preserve and put areg ? s y surface upon painted articles. It consists of differenta, m . s a state of solution, of which the most common aree it| St ' C ’ san darac, lac, copal, &c.; they are prepared with' er expressed or essential oils or alcohol.-min (from the Latin , vas, a vessel,) an ornamental ter-
oh , atl °n to the wall or other parts of an edifice, or to a pillar,ySk, or the like.
of ase ® are made in imitation of vessels, or urns, in the forms °Jid of revolution, and are often ornamented with basso-
e'^ V ° 8 ' n infinite variety. Those who would form a goodma y consult the article Oval, where.they will find the
^ e ntatical outlines which give the most pleasing varietyle curvature, and to the general section of the solid
through its axis ; the ornaments, though essential decora-tions, are merely auxiliaries.
Vase of the Corinthian or Composite Capital, a solidof revolution, from the surface of which all the ornamentsproject: the section of the vase having its general outlineof a form nearly similar to the surrounding contour of theleaves.
The situation of the vase is between the abacus and theastragal, at the top of the shaft, and the outline of the gene-rating figure is concave, springing parallel to the axis, andreceding gradually therefrom to the top, where it generallyterminates in a fillet, also parallel to the axis.
Vases of a Theatre, were vessels under the seats usedby the ancients, in order to produce greater harmony.
VAULT, (from the French, vaulte , a cave,) an archedroof over an apartment, concave towards the void ; the sec-tion may, therefore, be circular, elliptical, parabolical, hyper-bolical, catenarian, cycloidal, &c., but, in general, the sectionsare either portions of a circle or of an ellipsis.
Vault, Cylindric , that of which the surface is any portionof a cylinder, never greater than the half when the axis isin the same plane with the springing of the arch. Alsotermed barrel or wagon-headed vault.
Vault in full Centre, that which is formed of the sur-face of a semicylinder.
Vault, Surmounted, or Surhausse, that which is formedby the portion of any curve where the height is greater thanhalf the span.
Vault, Surbaise, that which is formed by the portion ofany curve whose abscissa is less than the ordinate whichforms half the base.
Vault, Rampant, that whose springing is not parallel tothe horizon; such as those of the old staircases of the Louvre,and the descent into the cellars.
Vault, Double, a mode of construction, where one vaultstands above another, in order to preserve the proportionbetween the exterior and interior of the building ; as in St.Peter’s at Rome.
Vault, Conic, that which forms the surface of a cone.Conic vaults may be of three kinds, according to the dispo-sition of the axis, viz., parallel, perpendicular, or oblique tothe horizon. They are seldom used in building houses ; theonly kind likely to come into use, is that with its axis parallelto the horizon.
Vault, Spherical, a vault forming the portion of thesurface of a sphere ; more usually called a Dome. SeeDome.
Vault, Annular, that of which the plan is containedbetween two concentric circles : its generating section mayeither be that of a pointed arch, or of a semicircle, or indeedof any other curve.
Vault, Simple, that which is constructed of the surfaceof some regular solid, around one axis, or centre.
Vault, Compound, that which is compounded of morethan one surface of the same solid, or of two different solids.Vaults of this kind are of the same solid as those whose sur-faces have different axes, or different centres, as those formedof two cylinders, equal or unequal, or of two spheres, equalor unequal, penetrating each other.