finial

finial
finialed, adj.
/fin"ee euhl, fuy"nee-/, n.
1. Archit. a relatively small, ornamental, terminal feature at the top of a gable, pinnacle, etc.
2. an ornamental termination to the top of a piece of furniture, or of one part of such a piece.
3. Typography. a curve terminating the main stroke of the characters in some italic fonts.
[1400-50; late ME, deriv. of L finis end; see -AL1]

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      in architecture, the decorative upper termination of a pinnacle, gable end, buttress, canopy, or spire. In the Romanesque and Gothic styles, it usually consists of a vertical, pointed central element surrounded by four outcurving leaves or scrolls. When the form it decorates has crockets (small, independent, sharply projecting ornaments, usually occurring in rows), the finial may be formed of four or more crockets surrounding the central upright. Finials in the form of candelabrum shafts occur frequently in early Renaissance work. The term now applies loosely to any small pinnacle, knob, or other decorative feature terminating a vertical motif. See also crocket.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Finial — Fin i*al, n. [L. finire to finish, end. See {Finish}.] (Arch.) The knot or bunch of foliage, or foliated ornament, that forms the upper extremity of a pinnacle in Gothic architecture; sometimes, the pinnacle itself. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • finial — ornament at the top of a spire, gable, etc., mid 15c., from fyniall putting an end to, binding (early 15c.), a variant of FINAL (Cf. final) …   Etymology dictionary

  • finial — ► NOUN 1) a distinctive section or ornament at the highest point of a roof, pinnacle, or similar structure. 2) an ornament at the top, end, or corner of an object. ORIGIN from Latin finis end …   English terms dictionary

  • finial — [fin′ē əl; ] Brit [ fī′nēəl] n. [ME, orig. adj., FINAL] a decorative, terminal part at the tip of a spire, gable, lamp shade support, etc., or projecting upward from the top of a cabinet, breakfront, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Finial — The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed to decoratively emphasize the apex of a gable, or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be… …   Wikipedia

  • finial — Knop Knop (n[o^]p), n. [OE. knop, knoppe; cf. D. knop, knoop, G. knopf, Dan. knap, knop, Sw. knapp, knopp, button, bud, Icel. knappr, and E. knap, n. Cf. {Knap}, {Knob}.] 1. A knob; a bud; a bunch; a button. [1913 Webster] Four bowls made like… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • finial — noun Etymology: Middle English, from final, finial final Date: 15th century 1. a usually foliated ornament forming an upper extremity especially in Gothic architecture 2. a crowning ornament or detail (as a decorative knob) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • finial — Концевой элемент (Terminal, Finial)     Окончание штриха [линии, составляющие знак шрифта] без засечки [короткий штрих на торце основного штриха] …   Шрифтовая терминология

  • finial — fin•i•al [[t]ˈfɪn i əl, ˈfaɪ ni [/t]] n. 1) archit. a relatively small ornamental terminal feature at the top of a gable or spire 2) fur a terminating ornament, as on the top of a post or a piece of furniture 3) pri a curve terminating the main… …   From formal English to slang

  • finial — noun /ˈfɪn.i.əl/ a) The knot or bunch of foliage, or foliated ornament, that forms the upper extremity of a pinnacle in Gothic architecture. b) Any decorative fitting at the peak of a gable, or on the top of a flagpole, fence post or staircase… …   Wiktionary

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