Glossary of Terms

Abrasive

Product that does the cutting in the sandblast process (the sand)

Apex

The highest point of a monument where the four sides are tapered together

Band

Any continuous strip or section on a monument which can be raised, flat, recessed or carved

Base

The lower part or parts of a multi-sectioned monument

Bas-Relief

Any sculpturing that projects minimally from the background

Bed

The flat, top portion of any monument base which is cut to fit the bottom (joint) for the die, or main part of the monument

Bevel Or Hickey Marker

A rectangular, angled or sloped-top marker

Blued

A term that describes the deepened color given to a monument by an abrasive used in sandblasting

Bottom Jointed

The bottom of the die, or main part of the monument, leveled and squared for final mounting on the base

Bruise

Any marring of the surface of a stone caused by a blow; also called a stun

Buffing

Applying the final touch to the stone’s polished surface

Cap

Any roof like outcropping, usually supported by columns

Capital

The top part of any pilaster or column

Carving

The process of shaping stone to the desired effect; includes sandblast, sculptural shape, line and hand carving

Chamfer

A beveled of tapered edge made by cutting away of square edge on a monument

Check

A cut or recess in the stone, normally on the top or ends; a rabbet-shaped cutting

Chipped

Small chips mar the edge of the stone

Columbarium

A vault with niches for urns containing ashes of the dead

Columnar

An orderly arrangement of single of double columns on a monument

Column

Any pillar consisting of a base, cylindrical or squared shaft and a capital or crown.

Concave

A curve matching the inner surface of a sphere

Convex

The opposite of Concave, any cut matching the outer surface of a sphere

Coping

Any low stone arrangement outlining the limits of a burial lot, also called a curbing

Cubical Content

Total number of cubic feet and inches in a piece of stone, cut or uncut

Curbing

The placing of a stone curb or low enclosure around a cemetery burial lot

Design

A sketch or picture of an artist’s concept of a specially designed monument

Die

The primary body portion of any monument, large or small; also called “Tablet”

Dowel

A pin designed to hold two joints of stone together

Drainage Holes

Openings drilled in any section of a monument of vase where it is necessary to carry off water

Drop

The amount of space between the highest and lowest of the bevel or other parts of a monument

Epitaph

Any inscription or text on a monument in memory of the person or persons interred there

Epoxy

A thermosetting resin used as a strong adhesive to permanently attach two items together

Etching

The drawing of scenes or portraits on memorials with a laser or diamond etcher

Face

The front of any monument of the forward portion of a slant-face marker

Flat Carving

Any line carving on the surface of stone; also called “skin carving”

Frost

To remove the polish and leave a matte finish; also called “dust” or “skin:

Full Size Detail

A full size sketch of a monument of part of a monument, showing it exactly as it is to appear when finished

Gable Top

The roof-like top of any monument that is some times referred to as a “two-way top” or a “rooftop”

Gothic Top

The top of a monument that rounds gracefully to a peak on the exact center line

Gold Leaf

A thin layer of gold that is applied to the memorial usually to enhance the lettering or to accent a carving

Grass Marker

A small flat piece of stone set with or approximately with the level of the ground; also call a “flush marker”

High Relief

The opposite of Bas-Relief. In high relief, the projecting figures of carvings extend outward at least half as much as their circumference

Joint

Any surface where one piece of stone has been dressed and cut to fit another; usually designates the bottom of the main part of the monument

Ledger

A memorial stone laid prone and covering all or most of the grave

Lithochrome

A liquid that can be sprayed onto panels or carvings or into letters to enhance of change the natural contrast or color

Margin

The extremely outer portion of any stone piece, which is given a contrasting finish for effect; can be sawn, steeled, hammered, or polished

Marker

A headstone, that lies flat or flush in the ground

Mausoleum

A building in which remains are buried or entombed

Memorial

A structure that serves as a reminder of a specific event of person

Nosings

Used in two ways: on monuments, it refers to any cut or additional stone projecting out beyond the main surface line. On slant markers, it can refer to
either top or front

Obelisk

Any tall, four sided spire that tapers to a pyramidal point

Ogee

A double curve in the shape of an elongated “S”

Outline, Frosted

Letters formed by lines sandblasted on a finished surface. The letters are frosted and outlined with a recessed line around the letter

Oval Top

Any monument or marker with the top arched as a segment of a circle

Panel

Any monument or marker with the top arched as a segment of a circle

Pedestal

A base for any urn, statue, etc.

Pillar

A column to support a structure

Pitching (Rock-Pitching)

The cutting or chipping away of rough stone to a predetermined and marked line

Plinth

A stone slab or block, usually square or rectangular, upon which a pedestal, column, die, or statue is placed

Polished

Term used to describe the high gloss finish on a monument

Raised Band

A running, raises strip on a monument that often contains names and dates

Raised Letters

A style of lettering that accomplished by removing the area around the letter and making it raised from the surface

Relief

The projection of carvings from the flat surface of a monument

Rounds

Any stone edge rounded like the outside of a circle

Rubbing

The process of tracing the lettering and design on the face of a monument by rubbing crayon over paper

Sandblast

A machine that mixes abrasive and air pressure in a controlled manner; used to carve and letter memorials

Sculpture

Shaping and carving stone to any predetermined form

Serpentine

Any surface or molding cut to resemble the S-like motion of a snake

Setting Compound

Used to form a seal between the die and base or other joints that must be sealed to keep water out; not an adhesive

Shell Rock

Rock pitching by removing large pieces of stone and leaving a shell-like appearance

Skin Carving

Any shallow carving on the skin or surface of a monument that is executed by removing the polish; has no depth

Slant

A marker with an extreme slant face with a nosing either at the top, bottom, or both

Steeled

The surface of any stone that is gound with steel shot, resulting in a smooth unpolished matte finish; also called “dusting”

Stencil

A sheet of rubber material affixed to the stone onto which the design has been transferred and then cut out to expose portions of the stone for sandblasting

Stock

The inventory of monuments held by a memorialist

Taper

The gradual decrease in thickness or width of a monument

Turned Work

Any circular-shaped memorial such as a vase

V-Sunk Letters

A style of lettering that uses a carver’s chisel to create the letter by cutting a “V” shape into the stone

Wash Or Drop Wash

A beveled surface making up the exposed portion of the upper edge of a monument base designed to assure water run-off

Wings

Stones extending outward from the main body of a monument