Glossary of Commonly Used Terms

A B C D E F G H L N O P R S T U V W
   
A  
Alpha and Omega
“The Beginning and the End”, when used with Cross or some other symbol of Christ.  Meaningless without sacred symbol
Anchor
Symbol of Hope
Apex
The top of a die, cap, plinth or spire sloping upwards to a point from the four sides
Arms
The two horizontal projections on a cross, also referred to as the Traverse bar
Ashlar
Small pieces of granite, rough or finished, which make up the side walls of a mausoleum
Axed
A surface dressed with a bush hammer 
B
Barre Guild
Barre organization of quarries-manufacturers to maintain high standards of granite and craftsmanship
Base
The bottom part of a two-piece monument, or the lower parts under a die as the first base is always the bottom, the second base may be one tier higher, the third base one tier higher, etc.
Base-relief
Sculpture in low relief. (Pronounced Baa-relief)
Bed
The bed of a base applies to that  part of its top surface cut to fit the joint of the die
Bevel
A slanting top. A bevel differs from a “slant” in that a “slant”  refers to a sharply slanting face
Bleeding Heart
Symbol of Grief, Bereavement
Block
A large, rectangular piece of rough material
Blue Bell
Floral Symbol of Constancy, Sorrowful Regret
Blued
A surface darkened in color by a sand-blast abrasive
Bottom Jointed
Bottom of a die, or other connecting piece, squared up for setting on a base
Buffer Head
The circular disk used to buff or polish the material 
C
Calla Lily
Floral symbol for Sympathy and Zeal
Canopy
An ornamental or roof-like covering supported by columns
Candelabrum
An ornamental candlestick having 3, 5, and 7 branches; popular as a Jewish symbol for a woman
Cap
Usually applied to the top part of a three or four piece monument
Capital
The uppermost part of a column or pilaster which serves as a crown to the shaft
Carving
Shaped carving, shaped with screen background, plain or flat, plain or flat with screen background, skin, screen panel
Chamfer
Surface made by cutting away a square edge. A beveled edge.
Check
A square cut member one inch or less. When larger than one inch they are called rabbets.
Chipped
A defect, a small piece broken out of edge
Columbarium
A structure of vaults lined with recesses for cinerary urns; also, in plural, the niches in such a structure
Convex
Curving outward like a segment of a globe or circle-opposite to concave
Cross
Symbol of Christianity
Crown of Roses
Symbol for Reward for Virtue
Crucifix
Latin Cross with figure of Our Lord upon it
Crypt
Enclosure for a casket in a mausoleum--when preceded by a  number, as 10-crypt or 2-crypt, it indicates the number of caskets which may be placed in a mausoleum; a vault wholly or partly underground, especially a vault under a church; a grave or tomb
Cubical Content
The cubic feet and inches in a die, base or block
Curbing
Fence or low enclosure for cemetery lot
D
Daffodil
Symbol of Desire, Regard
Daisy
Floral symbol of Innocence and Hope
Design
A photograph or an artist's rendering of a memorial
Diameter
The length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle from side to side
Die
The main part of the monument
Dimension Piece
Rough material broken to size
Dove
Symbolic of The Holy Ghost
Dowel
A pin used on horizontal joints when necessary to bind pieces together
Drainage Holes
Holes drilled in vases and bases for carrying off water
Drill
Tool used for boring holes in rough material
Drop
The distance between the lowest and highest points of an oval or bevel , serpentine, wash, etc.
E
Egg-and-Dart A classic moulding decorated with an egg-shaped ornament alternating with another in the form of a dart
Ends
The right and left sides of a die as you stand facing it
Epitaph
An inscription or writing engraved on, or suited to be on, a tomb or monument  
F
Face
The front of a monument or front of a slant-face marker
Facet
The flat raised surface between the flutings of an Ionic column
Flat Carving
See skin carving
Flute
A channel or curved section; often applied to one of a vertical series of such channels used to decorate columns and pilasters
Fluting
Decoration by means of flutes or channels
Front
The face of a monument
Frost
To remove the polish by sand-blasting. Dust off
Fruit and Vine
Symbolic of the Personality of Jesus Christ
Full Size Detail
A drawing of a memorial, or part of same, to the exact size ordered,  showing carving, lettering or members as they will appear when finished  
G
Gable Top
Top of a monument shaped like the roof of a house often called two-way top
Garden Types
Benches, sun dials, flower urns and pergolas made for normal or landscaped surroundings, not necessarily for cemetery purposes
Gladiolus
Symbol of The Incarnation, Preparedness 
Gothic Top
A convex top which rounds up to a peak on the center line
Granite
 A hard igneous crystalline rock composed of quartz, feldspar,  hornblende and biotite. Barre granite has same basic elements as contained in rubies and sapphires
Grapevine
Symbol of Religious Truths and Mysteries. The Church, Unity
Grass Marker A flat top marker set approximately level with the ground 
H  
Hickey A low, rectangular marker with bevel top of any desired finish,  but with rock pitched sides
High Relief
Sculpture in which the projection of the figures from the background is half or more than half of  the natural circumference
Hollyhock Symbol of Ambition
Horizontal Type Wherein the longest side is the joint or bottom 
L  
Laurel Floral symbol for Glory
Ledger A flat memorial placed full length on the ground, which usually covers the whole grave 
Lily Floral symbol for Easter, Purity, Innocence, Heavenly Bliss,  The Blessed Virgin
Lily of the Valley Symbol of Return of Happiness
Line A line marked on the surface by pitching, chipping, or sandblasting         
N  
Nosings On Markers
The top of a slant face marker; also the perpendicular face surface below the slant.  On Monuments - A small member which projects beyond the surface. It is usually found on the end of the die  
O  
Oak Leaf Symbol of Courage, Strength, Endurance
Obelisk (or Spire) A square or tapering shaft of impressive height
Ogee
A moulding consisting of two members, the one concave, the other convex. It has a profile in the form of the letter S
Olive Branch Symbol of Peace
Ornament A broad term used to describe carving, screening or other ornamentation
Outline Frosted Letter  Letters formed by sandblast lines on polished surface with the polish blown off between the lines
Oval Top Dies  With the top cut as a part or segment of a circle
P  
Palm Symbol of Victory, Spiritual Victory
Panel A sunken, raised or flush compartment with a moulding or other margin, as in faces of monuments
Passion Flower Symbol of The Anguish of the Crucifixion Faith
Pedestal and Square The base or foot of a column, statue, vase, or the like;  the part on which an upright work stands. It consists of  three parts, the base, the die and the cap
Perspective  (a) The art of drawing an object on a plane or curved surface exactly as it appears to the eye. (b) The apparent eeting of  parallel lines as their distance from the observer increases
Pitching
The chipping of a rock surface to a line “Pitch to a line,” etc.,  or “rock pitch,” is a die or base that is pitched to a line in all  or part rock finish
Plain Carving See Skin Carving
Plain Die A finished die without ornament or lettering
Plinth A square block serving as a base for a statue, vase, etc.;  the base of a column and often the second base of a three or  four piece memorial
Poinsettia Symbol of The Nativity-Christ
Polished A high gloss finish, when followed by a number as Polished -1-  or Polished -2-. The number refers to the number of sides polished
Poppy Floral symbol of Sleep-Death when looked upon as sleep
Posts Corner boundary markers for cemetery lot
Primrose Symbol of Youth-Sadness
Proportion The relation or adaptation of one portion to another or to the whole, as respects magnitude; a harmonizing relation between parts
R  
Rabbet Usually called a check when one inch or less wide and a rabbet if wider than one inch 
Relief

The projection of figures, ornaments, etc. from a background. Kinds of relief are named according to the degree of projection, as high, bas-relief, etc

Return The continuation of a wall or molding in a different or opposite direction
Rift The direction of easiest splitting in a granite mass, or the two  parallel surfaces of a block lying in the direction of easiest splitting. The vertical surface at right angles to the head grain.
Rolls  A short column placed in a horizontal position with ends finished to any specification
Rope Symbol of Eternity
Rose Floral symbol for Love, Wisdom, Beauty
Rosette An ornament in the form of a conventional rose, or other design of circular form, used as a decoration
Rough Stock Material as it comes from the quarry before any finishing has been done
Round Raised Letters Letters raised in a half round above the surface
Rounds An edge that is rounded
Rubbing
The impression of a carved, lettered or contour surface obtained by rubbing with crayon over paper when applied to surface 
S  
Saw Block A block of rough material large enough to run through a saw
Scotia A concave moulding
Screen Large monument suggestive of a chancel or sanctuary screen
Screen Carving
A process of sandblasting through a screen resulting in symmetrical deep holes and lines like a honeycomb sometimes called lace carving
Scroll A rotary head with a series of concentric rings, used as a grinding tool when “ironing”or "emerying”
Scroll An ornamentation generally used in Christian art to symbolize immortality.
Sculpture Carving in full relief, statuary, bas-relief
Seam A very fine crack
Seats A type of cemetery memorial, exedra bench
Serif The swelled ends of classic letters, generally called swell-headed letters
Serpentine A reverse curved surface, derived from the movement of  a serpent, often called Ogee top
Shamrock Symbol of The Holy Trinity, St Patrick. Emblem of Ireland
Shaped Carving Carving like sculpture    
Screen Background Same as above with screen background
Shell Rock A rock surface irregularly broken in deeper and longer scallops than in regular rock finish
Shot Spherical grinding material of iron or steel used to level surfaces-used in various sizes
Shoulder A member or projection raised above the surface similar to nosing
Sides See “ends.” Sink-Sunk -Sinkage- Referring to lowered surfaces
Slab A strip of granite axed or polished on one or two long faces with the edges in the rough state and    usually 8”, 10”, or 12” thick
Slant An extreme bevel usually with a nosing at the top and bottom-as slant marker
Square A tool used to square up stone
Square Raised Letters Letters raised above the surface, edges of letter square
Star Symbol of Birth or Life
Steeled A term sometimes used by competitive manufacturers to describe a finish somewhat similar to Memokraft
Stock Rough material
Straight Edge A tool of wood or steel with a true edge on long narrow side used to check accuracy of surfaces
Streak A fine line of imperfect grain, either darker or lighter than the whole
Sword A symbol of Power, Justice, Warfare, Fortitude
Symbolism The language and meaning of flowers and other signs 
T  
Taper A narrowing shape in monument design, the taper usually is toward the top
Thistle Symbol of Independence-Austerity-Emblem of Scotland
Tomb A large sarcophagus type memorial with the center excavated to receive a casket or caskets
Top The top surface of a die or monolith
Torch (Upright). Symbol of Eternal Life. (Inverted). Symbol of Death - Atheism
Tulip Floral symbol of Charity Love
Turned Work Memorial pieces circular in shape, rolls, columns, balls, urns  
U  
Urn
A vase solid or dished to receive flowers. Preferably urn if  solid-vase if hollowed out to receive flowers. Symbol of Destiny-Eternal life in the hands of the Divine Potter 
V  
V-sunk letter by hand-tool Letter sunken by hand-tool
Vase See Urn
Vertical Joint A vertical surface made ready to join another vertical surface
Vertical Type Symmetrical upright monument
Vestibule An entrance or passage hall next to the outer door of a mausoleum
Violet Floral symbol for Modesty, Faithfulness
W  
Wash The exposed part of the upper edges of a base when given a slope to shed water. A narrow beveled surface
Water Lily Symbol of Charity
Wild Rose Symbol of Love, Simplicity
Wings Supporting stones that extend from either side of a central die, usually to form a memorial of the screen type
Wreath Symbol of Remembrance. Wreath of Roses: Heavenly bliss, Of Laurel: Reward, Victory, Of  Olive: Peace, Of Ivy: Conviviality, Of Oak: Strength, Of Bay: Mourning, Of Willow: Bereavement,  Mourning. Of Yew: Immortality     

 

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