{{short description|Architectural structure}} {{About|an architectural structure|the large tree root|Buttress root|the Royal Canadian Air Force station|Buttress, Saskatchewan}} [[File:MIAG-AO CHURCH 2.JPG|thumb|Buttresses of Miag-ao Church, Philippines]]
A '''buttress''' is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall.<ref>{{citation| title = Buttress| url= https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/86773/buttress| publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica| encyclopedia= www.britannica.com}}</ref> Buttresses are fairly common on more ancient (typically Gothic) buildings, as a means of providing support to act against the lateral (sideways) forces arising out of inadequately braced roof structures.
The term '''''counterfort''''' can be synonymous with buttress<ref>{{cite EB1911|mode=cs2|wstitle=Counterfort |volume=7 |page=315}}</ref> and is often used when referring to dams, retaining walls and other structures holding back earth.
Early examples of buttresses are found on the Eanna Temple (ancient Uruk), dating to as early as the 4th millennium BC.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}
==Terminology== In addition to flying and ordinary buttresses, brick and masonry buttresses that support wall corners can be classified according to their ground plan. A clasping or clamped buttress has an L-shaped ground plan surrounding the corner, an angled buttress has two buttresses meeting at the corner, a setback buttress is similar to an angled buttress but the buttresses are set back from the corner, and a diagonal (or 'French') buttress bisects the angle between the walls where they meet.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glossary : Buttress|url=http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/glossary/glossary/B.html?no_cache=1&tx_contagged%5bpointer%5d=8|work=www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prestbury.net/magazine/church_architecture/page05.htm|title=Church architecture: Spires and buttresses|author=Edward Wyatt|work=www.prestbury.net}}</ref>
The gallery below shows top-down views of various types of buttress (dark grey) supporting the corner wall of a structure (light grey). <gallery mode="packed" caption="Buttress ground plans" heights="200px"> File:Anglebuttress.PNG|Angled buttress File:Claspingbuttress.PNG|Clasping or clamped buttress File:Diagonalbuttress.PNG|Diagonal or 'french' buttress File:Setbackbuttress.PNG|Setback buttress </gallery>
==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed" caption="Examples of Buttresses" heights="160px"> File:Buttress - Palace of Westminster - London - England - 040404.jpg|A buttress and a flying buttress, mostly concealed, supporting walls at the Palace of Westminster File:Zejtun cultural heritage 11.jpg|Buttress at Our Saviour's Chapel, Żejtun, Malta File:2014 02 13 16 12 25 Milano ITALY Duomo facciata facade con lampione with street lamp photo Paolo Villa FOTO3972.JPG|Façade buttresses at Milan Cathedral, Italy File:Barrage Daniel-Johnson2 edited.jpg|Buttresses on the 700ft tall Daniel-Johnson Dam, Quebec File:Stone Butresses (48013292043).jpg|Thick buttresses characterize Earthquake Baroque architecture like Paoay Church, Philippines File:Western side of the Great Mosque of Kairouan.jpg|Buttresses of the western side of the Mosque of Uqba in Kairouan, Tunisia File:Standalone row house in Centralia, Pennsylvania.JPG|Buttresses to support the wall of this row house were constructed after its neighboring house was taken down as part of the Centralia mine fire. File:Church of St. Lucas, near Jelsa, Hvar, Croatia 20230826 06.jpg|Buttresses supporting 14th-century chapel of St. Lucas near Jelsa, Croatia </gallery>
== See also == *Cathedral architecture *Flying buttress *Strainer arch *Pilaster *Retaining wall
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Wiktionary|buttress}} {{commons category|lcfirst=yes}} {{Wikisource1911Enc|Buttress}}
Category:Fortification (architectural elements) Category:Castle architecture Category:Columns and entablature Category:Architectural elements Category:Arches and vaults