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A glossary of southern african architectural terms

• introduction and bibliography
• achterhuis - azulejos
• bada - bypilaar
• caitya - cyma reversa
• dado - dwelling unit
• eaves - eyebrow dormer
• fanlight - fortified farmhouse
• gable - guvha
• haaklat - hut
• ibadi - izintingo
• jack rafter - jong hout
• kahlamba - kuttambalam
• laag - lys
• maalo - muurkas
• nagara - ntlhohlo
• Oculus - ox-drawn wagon
• Paal-en-klei - pyler
• qaba - quoin
• raam - rustiekvormklip
• sabha mandapa - sweep
• tala - twine
• ubuhlanti - uxande
• vajrasana - vormklip
• wall plate - wooneenheid
• xesibe - zulu architecture
• Glossary of Indic architectural terms
• Glossary of Pedi architectural terms
• Glossary of South Ndebele architectural terms
• Glossary of Tswana architectural terms
• Glossary of Venda architectural terms
• Glossary of Isixhosa architectural terms
• Glossary of Zulu architectural terms

L

LAAG. (Afrikaans). See under MASONRY COURSE.

LABEL MOULD. See under HOOD MOULD. (Afrikaans: kaplys or druplys).

LANCET ARCH. A slender pointed arch, its radii being greater than its span.

LANSET. (Afrikaans). See under LANCET ARCH.

LANTERN. A small structure on top of a dome or roof for the purpose of admitting light and ventilation or for ornamentation.

LAT. Also LATH. (Indian). A type of monumental pillar, usually surmounted by a sculptural representation, such as lions, and associated with the Asokan period. The form is apparently derived from the columns of Achaemenid palaces.

LATEI. (Afrikaans). See under LINTEL.

LEAD GLAZING. Also called lead light; small diamond-shaped panes of glass held in lead cames. (Afrikaans: ruit-in-lood).

LEAN-TO ROOF. See under CATSLIDE ROOF and AFDAK.

Lebato. (sePedi). A raised earthern floor.

LEBURU. Sotho/Tswana term derived from the Dutch boer. It is usually applied to white Afrikaans-speaking South Africans. See also AMABHULU and BOER.

LECTERN. Desk or stand used to support larger books used in the services of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. Latterly also applied to a lecturer's podium. (Afrikaans: koorlessenaar).

LEDGER. A large flat stone such as is frequently laid over a tomb. (Afrikaans: plat grafsteen).
Leferwana. (sePedi). A sleeping space in an enclosed verandah.

LEGGETT. Also spelt leggatt. A thatcher's wooden tool for striking the butts of reeds or straw to bring them into line. Three types of leggett are used: the Norfolk reed, the long handle combed and the paddle combed. The last is the only one recorded in current use in southern Africa where it is alternatively known as either a dekspan or a idekspan. (Afrikaans: dekspan, or dekspaan, or grasdekspan).

LEG-OF-MUTTON GABLE. Small sweeping gable located at the eaves of a roof, usually built up to accommodate a small zolder window. It forms no sharp angles with the roof and the eaves are run in a continuous undulating sweep over it.

Leiso. (seTswana). A hearth.

LEKGOWA. Sotho/Tswana word generally used to denote a white man.

LELAPA. Sotho/Tswana term used to denote the front or sitting courtyard in a homestead.

Lemati. (sePedi). Door.

Leojwana. (sePedi). A storage space set in an open verandah.

LEVECEL. Also spelt levesel. A term denoting a projecting roof over a door. (Afrikaans: baldakyn).

LICH-GATE. From the Anglo-Saxon lich meaning a corpse, also spelt as lych or called a Copse Gate. A roofed area over the entrance of a churchyard, beneath which pall bearers sometimes paused. (Afrikaans: kaphek).

LIGGER. Length of hazel 1200-1500mm long, used in conjunction with spars on the external face of thatch. Also known as a tool or a runner. (Afrikaans: grasdaklat).

LINGA. (Indian). Literally, a sign, sometimes interpreted as the sign or indicator of gender or sex, especially the male sex organ or phallus. In Hinduism, the linga is associated almost exclusively with Siva. Temples dedicated to Siva generally have a stone or metal linga enshrined as the main object of veneration. A linga may be set into a yoni, a symbol of the female generative organ, that serves as its pedestal, but more importantly, together, the linga and yoni symbolize the unity within duality that is central to much of Hindu thought. Sculpted lingas may be adorned with heads or faces and, occasionally, full figures.

LINOLEUM. Colloquially also known as “lino”. A loose floor covering built up from linseed oil and hessian canvas.

LINTEL. The horizontal member, either in timber or stone, which spans an opening, being supported on either side by posts, columns or masonry. (Afrikaans: latei).

LOBEDU. Indigenous southern African group inhabiting a region of the northern Transvaal immediately south of Venda. The people are more correctly known as the vaLobedu.

Lobota. (seTswana). Generic tern for the perimeter wall of a dwelling.

LOERGAT. (Afrikaans). See under LOOP HOLE.

LOFT. A room in the roof of a building. May also describe a gallery or a small chamber raised within a larger apartment or church void. (Afrikaans: solder).

Lomapo. (seTswana). Dowel set into the lower end of the beam, which is then set to rest upon the ring beam, or mophako.

LOODROEI. (Afrikaans). See under CAME.

LOOP HOLE. Narrow opening used in fortification work for the purpose of defense. (Afrikaans: loergat).

Lotwana. (seTswana). A timber post, usually used to support the external perimeter of a verandah, or the roof eaves.

LOUVRE. From the French l'ouverture. A small turret or lantern placed on the roof of larger buildings for the purpose of ventilation. (Afrikaans: hortjietoring).

Lufhata. (tshiVenda). The inner timber framework to a dwelling wall.

LUIK. (Afrikaans). See under SHUTTER.

Lukumbe. (tshiVenda). A verandah.

Luvhondo. (tshiVenda). The drum wall of a cone-on-cylinder dwelling.

Lefe. (sePedi). Smooth-style thatching, also known as Boer-style thatching.

Loala. (sePedi). A grindstone, which, in Pedi architecture, was often located in the shadow of the verandah.

LYS. (Afrikaans). See under MOULDING.