11 January 2017

plinth

[plinth]

noun, Architecture.

1. a slablike member beneath the base of a column or pier.
2. a square base or a lower block, as of a pedestal.
3. Also called plinth course. a projecting course of stones at the base of a wall; earth table.
4. (in joinery) a flat member at the bottom of an architrave, dado, baseboard, or the like.

Origin of plinth

Latin, Greek
1555-1565; earlier plinthus < Latin < Greek plínthos plinth, squared stone, brick, tile

Related forms

plinthless, adjective
plinthlike, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for plinth

Contemporary Examples

A giant toy duck was waddling on top of the fourth plinth when I arrived in Trafalgar Square mid-morning.
London’s Living Sculptures
Anthony Haden-Guest
August 5, 2009

Historical Examples

The walls are divided by many vertical lines of pilasters which rise from the plinth to the eaves-cornice.
Brick and Marble in the Middle Ages
George Edmund Street

Mrs. plinth enquired, still distrustful of Mrs. Roby’s thoroughness.
Xingu
Edith Wharton

Moreover, the contrast between the plinth and the white wall above it must have had a certain decorative effect.
A History of Art in Chalda & Assyria, v. 1
Georges Perrot

Today’s quote

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.

– Albert Einstein

On this day

11 January 1986 – Brisbane’s Gateway Bridge opens.

11 January 2008 – death of Edmund Hillary, New Zealand mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. Hillary and sherpa Tbeenzing Norgay became the first men to reach the summit of Mt Everest. Born 20 July 1919.

11 January 2011 – flood-waters from the Lockyer Valley reach the Brisbane River catchment, causing the river to break its banks, flooding the CBD and other river-side suburbs, including New Farm, Fortitude Valley, West End, St Lucia, Rocklea and Graceville, inundating 20,000 homes. The Brisbane River peaked on 13 January 2013 at a height of 4.46m. The city of Ipswich was also inundated, with the Bremer River peaking on 12 January 2011. The worst affected areas included Goodna and Gailes. There were reports of bull sharks in the city centre of Goodna. A total of 35 people died as a result of the flooding in Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley, Brisbane and Ipswich.

11 January 2016 – death of David Bowie, British musician and actor, born David Robert Jones. Born 8 January 1947.