arc boutant
/ɑrk buˈtɑ̃/
noun
- A flying buttress; an arched support on the outside of a building that helps hold up the walls or roof.
- The arc-boutant is both a functional and decorative feature of many old European buildings.
- Medieval architects used the arc-boutant to support the heavy stone ceilings of Gothic churches.
- The cathedral's arc-boutant allowed the builders to create very tall, thin walls with large windows.
Synonyms