WALLS, (perhaps from the Latin vallant, a fence,) those masses of materials which generally have their fires in ver tical or plumblines; or, at least are so disposed, that a plumb-line from any point in either surface will thll entirely within the surface, or within the thickness of the wall.
In walls constructed for shelter, if the materials cannot be joined without interstices, those interstices ought to be so closed as to render the work impervious to rain or drift.
The materials with which walls are generally constructed are brick or stone. Some walls may be built either of rough or squared stones. When the exterior walls of dwelling houses are to be constructed of rough stone, the stones ought to be laid in mortar; but when they are squared and smoothed, this is not necessary. The ancients, in building their edifices with squared stones, seldom laid them in mortar ; but their joints and beds were so exactly wrought, aq to come nearly in contact with each other. See Srotql; As bricks cannot be formed so regularly as stones, on account of the burning, they are usually laid in mortar. See
131tIUKLAYING and BRICKWORK.
From the definition given of a wall, founded upon the axiom, that every material which overhangs has a tendency to HI, or to break off; or to overturn the Structure of which it is a part, it is evident, that as a wall rises it ought either to diminish in its thickness, or to follow the plumb-line.
Walls common to two apartments are called partition walls, or simply partitions. When a wall is divided or separated by ornaments, apertures, or projections, it is said to be i n ter m; tied ; but if uninterrupted, it is called a continued wall. it is, however, generally understood, that when a wall has without prujectiens, as eidninns and pilaste N, it is said to lie continued, which is contradictory to the common acceptation of the term.
Watts, Abutments in, the beds that are prepared for the springing of an arch.