Groinery

/ɡrɔɪnəri/ noun

Definition

Collectively, the groins or groin vaults in a building, especially in Gothic or medieval architecture.

Etymology

From 'groin' plus '-ery,' a suffix meaning 'a collection of' or 'work involving,' used in architectural terminology for structural elements.

Kelly Says

The elaborate groinery of medieval cathedrals was a major technical achievement—masons had to calculate precise angles so that the curved surfaces would meet perfectly without collapsing!

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