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groin vault
This term is a specialized architectural descriptor used primarily in the study of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. It describes a specific structural solution for covering a square or rectangular space, allowing weight to be concentrated at four corner points rather than along entire walls. This innovation enabled the insertion of larger windows, which is a defining characteristic of the transition from heavy Romanesque walls to light-filled Gothic cathedrals.
In a technical context, it is distinguished from a barrel vault by its intersection of two vaults and from a rib vault by the absence of structural stone ribs. While a rib vault uses a skeleton of ribs to support the web, a groin vault relies on the geometry of the intersection itself for stability.
Meanings
An architectural structure formed by the perpendicular intersection of two barrel vaults of equal curvature, resulting in a diagonal arch known as a groin.
The cathedral's nave is supported by a series of elegant groin vaults that distribute the weight to the corners of each bay.