A small pyramid-shaped ornament used in medieval and Gothic architecture, arranged in repeating patterns; also a canine tooth of a dog.
From 'dog' + 'tooth.' The architectural pattern became popular in 12th-century Romanesque and Gothic architecture and was named for its resemblance to a dog's pointed fangs. The architectural usage became standard by the medieval period.
Dogtooth is one of the most visually satisfying architectural patterns—when you spot it on a cathedral or castle wall, the repetitive pyramid shapes create an optical effect that feels almost alive, and it's now used by architectural historians as a dating tool.
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