Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A narrow convex molding often having the form of beading.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The game of knuckle-bones; knuckle-downs.
- noun In architecture: A small convex molding cut into the form of a string of beads, used in classical architecture, especially in connection with the egg-and-dart molding and between the faces of different projection of Ionic and Corinthian epistyle and coffering beams. A small plain convex molding, usually with a fillet beneath it, sometimes between two fillets, used between the capital and the shaft of classic orders, except the Greek Doric, and in many other positions in classic, medieval, and later styles. See cut under
column . Also calledbead . - noun A convex molding encircling a cannon near the mouth: not present on modern guns.
- noun In carpentry, one of the rabbeted bars which hold the panes of a window.
- noun In anatomy, the astragalus.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Arch.) A convex molding of rounded surface, generally from half to three quarters of a circle.
- noun (Gun.) A round molding encircling a cannon near the mouth.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
molding for edging or decorating furniture. - noun A
molding attached to double doors to prevent drafts. - noun The
bone in the ankle connecting to the leg bones to form the anklejoint .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the bone in the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to form the ankle joint
- noun a beaded molding for edging or decorating furniture
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Several centuries later, the castle, called Seton Castle, retains the period detail, with astragal windows, ceiling plasterwork and unique chimneypieces.
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Fig. 256 shows the meeting of two doors which open outwards, a separate piece of timber being made to form a rebated astragal mould (F) and glued to the right-hand door.
Woodwork Joints How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used. William Fairham
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Fig. 265 is a rebated joint with loose tongue-slip and astragal mould, suitable for frames over 1-1/4 in. in thickness.
Woodwork Joints How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used. William Fairham
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Above the cymatium of the lintel, place the frieze of the doorway, of the same height as the lintel, and having a Doric cymatium and Lesbian astragal carved upon it.
The Ten Books on Architecture Vitruvius Pollio
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In the former case the stiles are rebated (as already shown in Fig. 260), whilst at Fig. 262 an astragal bead is glued to the right-hand stile.
Woodwork Joints How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used. William Fairham
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An enlarged section of the astragal mould which is grooved to fit on the bar which forms the rebate is also shown.
Woodwork Joints How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used. William Fairham
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The ingots of tin were in the form of an astragal, and an ancient ingot of large size dredged up in Falmouth Harbour, weighing 150 lbs., resembled the letter H in form.
From John O'Groats to Land's End Robert Naylor
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Fig. 257 is similar to the above, with the exception that the rail of the door is rebated (G) to receive the astragal moulding.
Woodwork Joints How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used. William Fairham
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Fig. 258 illustrates the type of joint made by using a brass astragal mould (H) as employed on high-class work, frequently seen on French furniture of the Louis periods.
Woodwork Joints How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used. William Fairham
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In Fig. 259 is shown a piece of brass astragal moulding, which may be procured from any cabinetmaker's ironmonger in suitable lengths.
Woodwork Joints How they are Set Out, How Made and Where Used. William Fairham
reesetee commented on the word astragal
A small convex molding cut into the form of a string of beads
February 9, 2007
chained_bear commented on the word astragal
"...he spoke privately to those whose province it was, pointing out that her guns were hopelessly old-fashioned—they could never be re-issued now—the second reinforce and the muzzle astragal were in every case different from the present regulation piece..."
--Patrick O'Brian, The Letter of Marque, 52
February 27, 2008
vendingmachine commented on the word astragal
An astragal is commonly used as a seal between a pair of doors. The astragal closes the clearance gap. The vertical member (molding) attaches to a stile on one of a pair of doors (either sliding or swinging) against which the other door strikes, or closes. Exterior astragals are kerfed for weatherstripping. Also, flush head and foot bolt hardware is commonly mortised into the astragal to hold the inactive door in place, when both doors operate, at the top and bottom.
Also known as “meeting stile seals,” the term can refer to the raised half-round overlap where pairs of doors meet, such as is the case with French doors. An astragal is designed to be applied to one or both doors of a pair at their meeting edges (meeting stiles). The astragal closes the clearance gap for the purpose of either providing a weather seal, ensuring privacy, preventing sound from leaking in or out of a room, minimizing the passage of light between the doors, or retarding the passage of smoke or flame during a fire.
Doors are typically the weakest link in any partition that is designed to block sound. This is often due to poor sealing around the perimeter of the door. Astragals, perimeter gasketing, drop seals and door sweeps can all be used to prevent sound from leaking through cracks around the door perimeter.
In cabinet making, an astragal can mean a bar separating panes of glass, either vertically or horizontally. This use is also common with window manufacturers.
See also astragalus.
April 7, 2016
bilby commented on the word astragal
Well paint me in pinstripes and kerf my astragal.
April 8, 2016