coussinetn.
/ˌkuːsɪˈneɪ/, /ˈkʊsᵻnɛt/, U.S. /ˌkusiˈneɪ/, /ˈkusəˌnɛt/ Architecture.
1. The lowest voussoir of an arch or vault, which rests on the impost (impost n.2 1). Now rare.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > arch > [noun] > parts of > voussoir
voussoir1359
coussinet1726
wedge1726
ringpen1832
ring1839
wedge-stone1854
1726 E. Stone New Math. Dict. at Impost A Plinth..that supports the Coussinet, which is the first Stone that a Vault or Arch commences.
1862 Amer. Jrnl. Educ. 12 212 Stability at the springing charge necessary on the coussinet.
1977 C. M. Harris Hist. Archit. Sourcebk. 144/2 Coussinet, the stone which is placed on the impost of a pier to receive the first stone of an arch.
2. The part of the end faces of an Ionic capital between the abacus (abacus n. 2) and echinus (echinus n. 4), terminating in the outer curves of the volutes on the capital's main faces. Cf. pillow n. 4d, rind n.1 6.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > column > [noun] > capital > parts of
abacus1563
echinus1563
plinth1563
fusarole1664
fuse1715
coussinet1728
rind1728
abaciscus1778
horn1847
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word) Coussinet is also used for the Ornament in the Ionic Capital between the Abacus, and Echinus, or Quarter-Round; and which serves to form the Volutes.
1847 J. Craig New Universal Dict. at Balteus The strap which binds up the coussinet or cushion of the Ionic capital.
1920 F. P. B. Osmaston tr. G. W. F. Hegel Philos. Fine Art III. 84 The Ionic capital..has not only a carved coussinet, little ledge and plinth, but receives both to the right and left a spiral winding.
2001 H. Hope Reed et al. tr. G. Gromort Elements Classical Archit. 44 The capital still shows two volutes on one side and the coussinet, or cushion, on the other side in a somewhat distorted form.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1726