Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Vault
Vault
(va̤lt; see Note, below)
, Noun.
1.
(Arch.)
An arched structure of masonry, forming a ceiling or canopy.
The long-drawn aisle and fretted
vault
. Gray.
2.
An arched apartment; especially, a subterranean room, used for storing articles, for a prison, for interment, or the like; a cell; a cellar.
“Charnel vaults.” Milton.
The silent
vaults
of death. Sandys.
To banish rats that haunt our
vault
. Swift.
3.
The canopy of heaven; the sky.
That heaven’s
vault
should crack. Shakespeare
4.
[F.
volte
, It. volta
, originally, a turn, and the same word as volta
an arch. See the Etymology above.] A leap or bound.
Specifically: – (a)
(Man.)
The bound or leap of a horse; a curvet.
(b)
A leap by aid of the hands, or of a pole, springboard, or the like.
☞ The l in this word was formerly often suppressed in pronunciation.
Barrel vault
, Cradle vault
, Cylindrical vault
, or
Wagon vault
(Arch.)
, a kind of vault having two parallel abutments, and the same section or profile at all points. It may be rampant, as over a staircase (see
– Rampant vault
, under Rampant
), or curved in plan, as around the apse of a church. Coved vault
. (Arch.)
See under 1st
– Cove
, Verb.
T.
Groined vault
(Arch.)
, a vault having groins, that is, one in which different cylindrical surfaces intersect one another, as distinguished from a barrel, or wagon, vault.
– Rampant vault
. (Arch.)
See under
– Rampant
. Ribbed vault
(Arch.)
, a vault differing from others in having solid ribs which bear the weight of the vaulted surface. True Gothic vaults are of this character.
– Vault light
, a partly glazed plate inserted in a pavement or ceiling to admit light to a vault below.
Vault
(va̤lt)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Vaulted
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Vaulting
.] 1.
To form with a vault, or to cover with a vault; to give the shape of an arch to; to arch;
as, to
. vault
a roof; to vault
a passage to a courtThe shady arch that
vaulted
the broad green alley. Sir W. Scott.
2.
[See ]
Vault
, Verb.
I.
To leap over; esp., to leap over by aid of the hands or a pole;
as, to
. vault
a fenceI will
vault
credit, and affect high pleasures. Webster (1623).
1.
To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.
Vaulting
ambition, which o'erleaps itself. Shakespeare
Leaning on his lance, he
vaulted
on a tree. Dryden.
Lucan
vaulted
upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth. Addison.
2.
To exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping; to tumble.
Webster 1828 Edition
Vault
VAULT
,Noun.
1.
A continued arch, or an arched roof. Vaults are of various kinds, circular, elliptical, single, double, cross, diagonal, Gothic, &c.2.
A cellar.To banish rats that haunt our vault.
3.
A cave or cavern.The silent vaults of death, unknown to light.
4.
A repository for the dead.5.
In the manege, the leap or a horse.VAULT
,Verb.
T.
VAULT
, v.i.1.
To leap; to bound; to jump; to spring.Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself -
Leaning on his lance, he vaulted on a tree.
Lucan vaulted upon Pegasus with all the heat and intrepidity of youth.
2.
To tumble; to exhibit feats of tumbling or leaping.