HOOD MOULD, in architecture, a moulding projecting from the face of the wall, immediately above an arch or opening whose curvature or outline it follows. It originated in the Romanesque period (see BYZANTINE AND ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE) as a protection to the mouldings below and to throw water away from the opening, and was later developed into an important decorative feature. It is almost universal over exterior arches in the Gothic work (see GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE) of France, Germany and Spain ; in England it was, furthermore, common in interior work, especially in nave arcades. In profile, the hood mould has, usually, a downward sloping upper surface, and a hollow below to act as a drip (q.v.) ; at its lower end, near the spring of the arch, it is either received upon the capital of a column or ends in a project ing, carved, ornamented boss (see LABEL).