A Stonemason's Dictionary
A pocket dictionary of masonry terms, names and expressions

Dais: Raised area, usually by one step, upon which stands the altar.

Dentil: A form of enrichment used on cornice mouldings consisting of a series of regular rectangular blocks.

Diaper: A painted or carved pattern of squares, each containing a simple foliate device.

Dilly: Portable beam mounted hoist.

Dogs: Lifting hooks attached to a loop of chain which, when inserted into holes cut in a quarry block, can be used to lift it.

Dog Cramp: A metal cramp, turned down at both ends, used to lock stones together (such as copings).

Dog-Tooth Moulding: An ornamental 13^th century moulding, consisting of a series of pyramidal projections, the sides of which are carved out to create leaf shapes.

Dome: A method of producing a hemi-spherical structure using horizontal and circular courses of tapered stones or bricks. It is a self supporting structure independent of supporting ribs, framework or corbelled (cantilevered) stonework. The term is often applied incorrectly to dome-shaped structures, such as the Millennium "Dome" in Greenwich, London.

Dormer Window: A window projecting from a roof.

Draft: A term used to describe the chiselled line produced when dressing masonry.

Drag: Flat toothed steel Stonemason’s tool resembling a section of saw blade, used for final dressing of flat faces on soft limestone.

Dressings: The stone or brick parts of a building which are distinct from plain walling; copings, jambs, sills, etc.

Dripstone: A piece of masonry designed to carry rainwater clear of the building and literally drip it onto the ground.

Drop Arch: A pointed arch with radii less than its span.

Dummy: A small round headed mallet type tool made of zinc, brass or iron used in stonemasonry for delicate work and used in conjunction with carpentry chisels for carving some soft limestones.