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SABHA MANDAPA. (Indian). An assembly hall in a temple; a mandapa; a ranga mandapa.

SADDLE BARS. The small iron bars reinforcing leaded glazing in casement windows. (Afrikaans: dwarsroeisteun).

SADDLE-PIECE. The junction of a ridge with the main roof cover. See also RIDGE CAPPING. (Afrikaans: nokstuk).

SALA. (Indian). A type of shrine or a miniature version of a shrine that is rectangular in plan and has a barrel-vaulted, or perhaps, more properly, a “barrel-shaped” roof. It may serve as the crowning element of a tower or as a decorative motif repeated on the stories of the superstructure of a south Indian-style temple, as well as in other architectural and decorative contexts. Also an enclosure or cloister.

SAMGHARAMA. (Indian). A monastery.

SAN. Name given by the Khoikhoi to the indigenous group of southern African migrant hunter-gatherers more commonly known as the Bushmen. In view of the pejorative undertones of the latter word, anthropologists and archaeologists have opted, in more recent times, for the former which is believed to signify "a person without domestic stock".

SANDHARA. (Indian). A type of temple characterized by an enclosed passageway for circumambulation.

SAPLING. A thin pliable length of young timber, usually less than 20mm in diameter. (Afrikaans: jong hout).

SAPTARATHA. (Indian). "Seven-ratha"; the side of a pedestal or building that is offset so that its length is divided into seven sections.

SASH BAR. See GLAZING BAR. (Afrikaans: ruitbalkie).

SASH WINDOW. A window where the opening lights slide up and down in a cased frame, balanced by sash cords passing over a sash pulley. (Afrikaans: skuifraamvenster).

SCISSORS TRUSS. A simple truss formed of four main members. Two are rafters from wall-plate to ridge; the other two extend from the rafter at wall-plate level to the middle of the opposite rafter. These two members intersect at the middle of the span, giving a scissors-like appearance to the truss. (Afrikaans: skerkap).

SCOTIA. A concave moulding, also called a Rising Hollow or a Trochilus. (Afrikaans: trogilus).

SCUD. Twisted rope of straw used in conjunction with spars for fixing thatch. (Afrikaans: strooitou).

SEED-END. See under BUTT.

SEKELGRASHAAK. See under SHEARING HOOK.

Seokome Labagwe. (seTswana). A window.

Setlhowa. (seTswana). The apex of a conical roof structure.

SET-OFF. Also called an off-set; the part of a wall exposed horizontally when the portion above it is set back from the face. (Afrikaans: uitsteeklae).

Setswalo. (seTswana). A door.

SETT. See under COURSE (Thatching).

SETTLEMENT. A generic word used to describe all human habitat in its widest possible context, embracing in its scope the full scale of population numbers ranging in size from the individual family homestead through to the larger village and town. (Afrikaans: gemeenskap).

SHEARING HOOK. A sickle-shaped cutting tool used by the thatcher for cleaning down the face of finished work. (Afrikaans: sekelgrashaak).

SHIKHARA. (Indian). 1. In north Indian architecture, the spire or tower over the shrine of a temple. 2. In south Indian architecture, the term does not refer to the entire superstructure but only to the globular or domed roof of the uppermost element in the superstructure. It is topped by a finial known as a stupi and is supported by the griva, or neck.

SHINGLE. Wooden roof tile, often made from cleft oak, cedar or teak. (Afrikaans: dakspaan).

SHONA. A group of people indigenous to Zimbabwe, although in the past their lands are thought to have included large areas of the northern Transvaal. They are more correctly known as the maShona and their language is referred to as chiShona. The Venda are also currently believed to be part of a larger Shona grouping.

SHORE. Called a shoar; temporary timber buttress used to support buildings undergoing structural maintenance. (Afrikaans: skoor).

SHUTTER. A wooden panel, sometimes louvered, used to fasten externally over a wall opening, either over the window itself or instead of it. (Afrikaans: luik).

SIDE PURLIN. Any timber member in a purlin roof which is not the ridge purlin. (Afrikaans: kaplat).

SIERPLEISTERING. (Afrikaans). See under PARGETING.

SILL. See under CILL.

SILPIN. (Indian). An architect or a crafter. SIMHASANA. (Indian). Lion seat or throne; a throne

supported by lions. Also, the sitting posture of the lion, an asana.

SITIBILE. (isiXhosa). A term used in the Transkei to describe a thatching horse. It may also denote a horse-riding stirrup. It is possible that this word owes its roots to the English "stable", as in "solidly balanced".

SIVA. (Indian). "Auspicious." One of the principal Hindu gods; god of destruction. He may appear in many forms, both peaceful and angry. His characteristic vahana is the bull Nandi; he has many attributes, but one of the most important is the trident. In temples dedicated to him, a linga is usually placed as the central votive object in the shrine rather than an anthropomorphic image of him.

SKARNIER. (Afrikaans). See under HINGE.

SKERKAP. (Afrikaans). See under SCISSORS TRUSS.

SKERM. Dutch term for the wind screens used by early farmers in the Cape. It is probable that these were adapted from similar mat structures used by the indigenous KhoiSan.

SKEW. Angled finish to the base of a gable parapet wall. (Afrikaans: skuinsgewel or borswering).

SKOOR. (Afrikaans). See under SHORE.

SKOORSTEEN. (Afrikaans). See under CHIMNEY STACK.

SKOORSTEENBORS. (Afrikaans). See under CHIMNEY BREAST.

SKOORSTEEN POT. (Afrikaans). See under CHIMNEY POT.

SKUBPATROON. (Afrikaans). Also referred to as Dakpanligging. See under IMBRIGATION.

SKUIFRAAMVENSTER. (Afrikaans). See under SASH WINDOW.

SKUINS. (Afrikaans). Also referred to as terughelling. See under RAKE.

SKUINSGESNY. (Afrikaans). See under CANTED.

SKUINSGEWEL. (Afrikaans). See under SKEW.

SKUINS SKUTDAK. (Afrikaans). See under CATSLIDE ROOF.

SLAGPAAL. (Afrikaans). From the Dutch, meaning a slaughtering post. Stout beam projecting from the end gable of a Cape Dutch farmstead, above the zolder door. It was used to hoist produce sacks into the loft or, at times, to suspend a slaughtered beast.

SLATE TILES. Roof tiles originally imported from Wales, but subsequently quarried locally. Two sizes are known, Countesses (508x254mm) and Duchesses (610x305mm).

SLUITSTEEN. (Afrikaans). See under KEY-STONE.

SMOOTH STYLE THATCHING. See under BOER STYLE THATCHING. (Afrikaans: boerestyl-grasdak).

SOD BRICK CONSTRUCTION. A method of wall construction used in some parts of southern Africa whereby the building blocks are obtained by cutting up a field of turf into squares approximately 300x450mm. The sods are then lifted up by means of a spade with the clay particles being held together by the vegetation. After the sods have been laid into a vertical wall, the continued growth of the grass is often encouraged in order to bind the individual parts into one larger and homogenous mass. (Afrikaans: sooiblok konstruksie).

SOLDER. (Afrikaans). See under LOFT.

SOLDERDEUR. (Afrikaans). See under GABLE DOOR.

SOLDERKAMER. (Afrikaans). See under ATTIC ROOM.

SOLDERKAMERVENSTER. (Afrikaans). See under DORMER WINDOW.

SOOIBLOK KONSTRUKSIE. (Afrikaans). See under SOD BRICK CONSTRUCTION.

SOTHO. A group indigenous to the interior of southern Africa who today are generally regarded by anthropologists as belonging to a larger Sotho/Tswana identity. The current use of this term refers to the southern Sotho of Lesotho and the southern highveld whose national homogeneity is of relatively short standing, being the result of the events of Difaqane and the subsequent colonialisation of the region. Their language is known as seSotho.

SOTHO ARCHITECTURE. The architecture of the southern highveld and Lesotho has undergone extensive changes in recent years. At one time this region was noted for its dwellings with extended, snout-like entrances but since the 1920s these have undergone widespread change and today the thatched cone on cylinder and the lean-to highveld house rival each other for supremacy. The latter dwelling often displays a richly decorated facade.

SOUTH NDEBELE ARCHITECTURE. The South Ndebele inhabit a region of the Transvaal located north-east of Pretoria, between Middelburg and Groblersdal. Historically their architecture has been based upon that of their northern neighbours and political allies, the Pedi. Their dwellings were circular with a verandah running about the external perimeter but in recent years these have largely been superseded by square plan, lean-to, parapet structures, much like those found on the southern highveld. Since the 1940s their women have developed a unique style of polychromatic wall art which draws deeply from the patterns of urban life they have observed in the towns about them.

SPANDREL. A roughly triangular space between the arch of a doorway and the rectangle formed by the outer mouldings surrounding it. (Afrikaans: hoekvlakvormig).

SPAR. A split length of hazel, pointed at both ends and twisted in the middle, using for fixing liggers, cross-rods and scuds. Also known as a spit.

SPAR HOOK. Thatcher's tool used for splitting and pointing hazel spars. (Afrikaans: deksparhak).

SPAZA. (Urban slang). Literally translates to “not quite” or “not the real thing”, as in “spaza shop”, or “not a conventional shop”.

SPIL. (Afrikaans). Also referred to as Trap. See under NEWEL.

SPILKOP. (Afrikaans). See under NEWEL CAP.

SPIRE. The acutely pointed roof terminating a turret pinnacle or church tower. (Afrikaans: toringspits).

SPIRE LIGHTS. Openings, usually pedimented, introduced into the spire for the purpose of lighting and ventilation. (Afrikaans: toringspits-openinge).

SPIT. See under SPAR.

SPITS. (Afrikaans). Also a Peak. See under STEEPLE.

SPITSTORINKIE. (Afrikaans). See under PINNACLE.

SPITSVERSIERING. (Afrikaans). Also referred to as Nokpuntversiering. See under FINIAL.

SPLAY. Expansion given to wall openings by spanning the jambs. (Afrikaans: uitgeskuinste-dagwan).

SPLYTLAT. (Afrikaans). See under GADD.

SPONNING. (Afrikaans). See under REBATE.

SPRINGING. See under TILTING FILLET. (Afrikaans: wiplat).

SQUINCH. A support or series of supports placed diagonally within a square or rectangular structure in order to carry a circular or polygonal superstructure. (Afrikaans: hoekboog).

SRIKOVIL. (Indian). The main shrine of a Hindu temple in Kerala.

STAANROEISTEUN. (Afrikaans). See under STANCHION.

STABLE DOOR. Also known as a Dutch door. A door cut through horizontally at about half its height and having each half separately hung. The top was known as the bodeur, whilst the lower was the onderdeur. (Afrikaans: bo-en-onderdeur).

STAMBHA. (Indian). A pillar; frequently a free-standing pillar. Also known as a lath.

STAMP. (Afrikaans). See under BUTTING.

STANCHION. Upright iron bar between the mullions of a window or screen. In the latter case they were frequently ornamented at the top with a fleurs-de-lis, leaves or spike. (Afrikaans: staanroeisteun).

STEEKVERSIERING. (Afrikaans). See under PIERCED DECORATION.

STEEPLE. Tower of a church, including any superstructure such as a spire or lantern. (Afrikaans: spits or toring).

STEUN. (Afrikaans). See under BRACKET.

STICK STYLE. A style of domestic timber construction prevalent in the United States during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Its aesthetic is roughly comparable to that of Late Victorian Eclecticism. (Afrikaans: Amerikaanse lat).

STILT DWELLINGS. Although stilt structures have been built in the past by most of southern Africa's rural groups, most have functioned as either grain stores or chicken coops. The only exceptions to this rule were recorded by travellers in the 1830s in the western Transvaal and eastern Botswana region where grass huts were placed upon a stilt platform.

STITCHING NEEDLE. Iron or timber needle used in conjunction with either vegetable fibres, twine or tarred cord to sew the thatch or reed cover onto the timber framework below. (Afrikaans: dekkersnaald).

STOEP. Dutch term used to designate any platform raised above street level such as that fronting the entrance to a house. In more recent times, it has gained popular, if incorrect, usage to denote a verandah.

STRING. Also a string course; a projecting horizontal band or line of mouldings in a building. (Afrikaans: bandlaag).

STROOISTEENMUUR. (Afrikaans). See under COB WALL.

STROOITOU. (Afrikaans). See under SCUD.

STRUCTURE. Manner in which a building or organism or other complete whole is constructed. This is usually a reference to the supporting framework although it could also be taken to mean the building as a whole. (Afrikaans: struktuur).

STRUKTUUR. (Afrikaans). See under STRUCTURE.

STUCCO. Term for smooth-rendered plasterwork.

STUIKENT. (Afrikaans). See under BUTT END.

STUPA. (Indian). A crest or summit. In Jainism and Buddhism, an architectural term denoting a dome-shaped or rounded structure that contains the relic of a Buddha, a great teacher, or some other honored individual, and is thus, generally considered to be a type of sepulchral monument. It may be made in a miniature or votive form, but even its smaller versions often contain relics. A stupa is a type of caitya.

STUPI. (Indian). Also known as a stupika, a pinnacle. The usually vase-shaped finial atop the superstructure of a south Indian Hindu temple.

STYL. (Afrikaans). See under POST.

SVASTIKA. (Indian). Of good fortune; an auspicious emblem shaped like an equal-armed cross having bent legs. It is found in the Indic regions as early as the Indus civilization.

SWAAIRAAM. (Afrikaans). See under CASEMENT.

SWAAIRAAM VENSTER. (Afrikaans). See under CASEMENT WINDOW.

SWAY. Length of hazel or sapling, used in conjunction with iron hooks, to fix thatch to the roof timbers.

SWAZI. Nguni-speaking southern African group inhabiting the north-eastern part of the region also known as the Kingdom of Swaziland. They are more correctly known as the amaSwazi and their language is referred to as isiSwati.

SWEEP. The curve formed in a roof valley. (Afrikaans: kromming).

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