hance
hance — noun
1. in shipbuilding, the sloping curve on a deck rail where it bends downward to joi
in shipbuilding, the sloping curve on a deck rail where it bends downward to join the flat deck surface — for example, the arc where the rail around a mast descends to deck level
The ship's carpenter shaped the hance so rainwater would run off the deck.
nautical domain: curved deck-rail contour
During the repair of the old boat, the team fixed a cracked hance near the main mast.
The wooden hance where the rail met the deck had worn smooth from years of use.
Tara traced the curve of the hance with her fingers, checking for damage.
On the left side of the deck, the hance dropped sharply to meet the planking.
文法句型
the hance of [a ship/rail]
[adjective] hance
用法筆記
This nautical sense refers only to shipbuilding. The other three senses belong to architecture.
2. in architecture, the arc with the smallest radius near the base of an arch that
in architecture, the arc with the smallest radius near the base of an arch that is elliptical in shape, located where the curve first rises from the supporting wall or pillar
The stonemason carved the hance at the base of the elliptical arch with great care.
architecture term at the springing point of an arch
Ryo noticed that the hance of the Renaissance arch was tighter than on the older one.
Before cutting the stone, Otis measured the hance at the base of the arch.
The engineer measured the hance to see if the arch could hold the weight above it.
Cracks appeared in the hance where the stone met the vertical pillar.
- springing curve
describes the same location but is less formal as a single term
文法句型
the hance of [an arch]
[adjective] hance
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: the hance in sense 2 is the very bottom curve at the springing, while the hance in sense 3 is the sloping section higher up the arch side.
3. the lower sloping part of an arch between the top crown and the bottom support,
the lower sloping part of an arch between the top crown and the bottom support, forming the side curve of the archway
The weight of the roof pushed hardest against the hance of the stone arch.
load bearing section of the arch
Kemi reinforced the hance with steel brackets after the earthquake damaged the bridge.
The old church had carved patterns along the hance of every stone arch.
Water damage was worst at the hance, where rain had seeped through the old mortar.
The hance curves inward as the arch rises up from its stone support base.
- haunch
the more common term for this part of an arch; hance is an alternative form
文法句型
the hance of [an arch]
along the hance
用法筆記
This sense is essentially synonymous with 'haunch of an arch.' Distinguish from sense 2, which refers to the tight curve at the very base, and sense 4, which refers to a separate small arch element at a door frame.
4. a small curved stone or brick section that bridges the gap between a straight ho
a small curved stone or brick section that bridges the gap between a straight horizontal beam above a doorway and the vertical side frame of the opening
Above the doorway, a small hance connected the flat beam to the side post.
small bridging arch between lintel and jamb
The craftsman cut a stone hance to join the flat beam to the side frame.
Without a hance, the straight lintel would not fit securely against the door frame.
Each window in the old building had a hance where the top stone met the upright.
Omar studied the hance that joined the wooden beam to the brick side posts.
- connecting arch
describes the function rather than being a named architectural term
文法句型
a hance joining [X] to [Y]
hance + between
用法筆記
This sense describes a separate structural element distinct from senses 2 and 3, which refer to parts of a continuous arch curve. Here the hance is a small independent arch used as a connector.