Abaque (abacus)

The abacus on this photo is the square or rectangular stone slab between the chapiteaux (capitals) and the beginning of the arcs (arches) resting on the colonnes (columns). 
See also tailloir (synonym) en architrave.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Astragale (astragal)

The ring between the top of a colonne (column) and the underside of the corbeille (capital head) is called astragal.
According to Wikipedia the astragal is normally a part of the chapiteau (capital), whilst in classical antiquity it was a part of the column.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Base (base)

An ornamental cornice at the bottom of a colonne (column) or pilier (pillar).
The base rests on the socle or plinth of the column.
The picture shows a free-standing column in the doyenné of Saint-Hippolyte (Bonnay).

Doyenné de Saint-Hippolyte (Bonnay)

Boudin (torus)

A ring at the bottom of a colonne (column), more or less the same as an astragale (astragal).
Boudin means literally black pudding.
These columns are to be found in the déambulatoire (ambulatery) of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité in Bois-Sainte-Marie.
See also tore (synonym).

Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité - Bois-Sainte-Marie

Cannelure (fluting)

Cannelures are the vertical shallow grooves in a colonne (column).
Although well known from Greek and Roman columns, they are also used in roman (Romanesque) columns.
In the picture the (Roman) mauseleum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence (13).
See also pilastre cannelé.

Mausolée - Saint-Remy-de-Provence

Colonnade (colonnade)

A series of colonnes (columns), for example the colonnade seperating the déambulatoire (ambulatory) from the abside (apse) in the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité in Bois-Sainte-Marie.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité - Bois-Sainte-Marie

Colonne (column)

A vertical construction element with a circular cross section, either monolithic or composed of tambours (drums).
In the picture some columns of the colonnade in the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité in Bois-Sainte-Marie.
See also other entries related to colonne.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité - Bois-Sainte-Marie

Colonne adossée (semi-freestanding column ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

A circular colonne (column) which is not completely freestanding, but which "leans" against a wall or a pilier (pillar).
In the photo two decorated colonnes adossées in a portail (portal) of the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Colonne engagée (semicircular engaged column)

Semicircular colonne (column), engaged to a wall or pilier (pillar).
This colonne engagée can be found against one of the pillars of the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.
See also demi-colonne (synonym).

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Colonnette (short column ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

A short colonne (column).
This colonnette can be found in one of the clochers (bell towers) of the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Contrefort-colonne (buttress column ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

A colonne engagée (semicircular engaged column) or colonne adossée (semi-freestanding column) acting as a contrefort (buttress).
In the picture two contreforts-colonnes built aganst the déambulatoire (ambulatory) of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité in Bois-Sainte-Marie.

Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité - Bois-Sainte-Marie

Corbeille (head of capital ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The most elaborate part of a chapiteau (capital), often exuberantly decorated.
The corbeille is placed between astragale (astragal) and tailloir (abacus).
The picture shows one of the corbeilles with astragale from the chœur (choir) of Cluny III.

Farinier - Cluny

Demi-colonne (semicircular engaged column)

Semicircular colonne (column), engaged to a wall or pilier (pillar).
This demi-colonne can be found against one of the pillars of the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.
See also colonne engagée (synonym).

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Dosseret (birth ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The place where one or more arcs (arches) start.
In the picture it is the protruding step like ridge around the pilier (piller), which indicates the place where the pillar ends and the arches begin.
The picture was taken in the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.
See also imposte.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial

Fût (column shaft ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

The most important, and (almost always) longest part of a colonne (column) between base and chapiteau (capital), almost always cylindrical.
This freestanding column is part of the doyenné (deanery) of Saint-Hippolyte (Bonnay).

Doyenné de Saint-Hippolyte (Bonnay)

Monolithe (monolithic)

A sculpture made from one piece of stone.
A colonne (column) can also be hewn from one piece of stone; in that case it is called a monolithic column.
The word monolithe (monolith) can also be just a solid piece of stone, like those lining Stone Henge. This monolithe can be found in a field near La Chapelle-sous-Brancion.

Menhir - La Chapelle-sous-Brancion

Pilastre (pilaster)

A pilaster is a rectangular wall strengthening, protruding less than its width from the wall.
The tall strengthenings next to the louvre-holes are pilasters, as are the short ones underneath the louvre-holes.
The picture shows a pilastre in the abside (apse) of the Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens in Curbigny.

Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens - Curbigny

Pilastre cannelé (fluted pilaster)

A pilastre (pilaster), lengthwise decorated with grooves.
In the picture there are pilastres cannelés on the left and right hand side of the portail (portal) of the Saint-Philibert in Tournus.

Saint-Philibert - Tournus

Pilier (pillar)

A pillar is a freestanding vertical construction element with a circular, square or cross shaped cross section.
Pillars are considerably heavier compared to colonnes (columns).
The picture shows the pillars in the Saint-Martin in Chapaize.

Saint-Martin - Chapaize

Pilier cruciforme (cross shaped pillar ©)

The translation in the title is followed by this sign ©; this means that it has been "invented" by me.

A pilier (pillar) which has a cross section more or less resembling a cross.
The picture shows such a pillar in the Sacré-Cœur in Paray-le-Monial.

Sacré-Cœur - Paray-le-Monial