The Neo-Gothic style: a brief glossary of essential terms
Here are 12 key terms that define both the stylistic and structurally functional elements of the Neo-Gothic approach, skillfully integrated into the engineering and architectural works that support Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica.
Published on Aug 19th 2025 2 min read.
Pointed arch
The hallmark of Gothic architecture: two curved segments meet at a sharp point, creating a vertical thrust that reduces lateral pressure on the walls.
Ribbed vault
The intersection of two pointed arches forms a diamond-shaped ceiling that lightens the structure and allows for taller, brighter naves.
Rib
A raised edge molded in stone or brick, serving as the framework for ribbed vaults and guiding the distribution of weight toward the piers.
Flying buttress
An external stone brace that transfers the vault’s thrust to the buttresses. Without them, the walls would collapse outward.
Buttress
A vertical mass of masonry attached to the wall to reinforce its stability. Paired with flying buttresses, it embodies the “strength and grace” dynamic.
Pinnacle
A miniature spire adorning the top of buttresses. This decorative weight anchors the structure downward and draws the eye upward.
Triforium
A narrow gallery running above the main arcades. In Neo-Gothic style, it often appears as an openwork band following the interior wall.
Clerestory
The upper row of windows above the triforium. These windows flood the nave with light filtered through stained glass.
Rose window
A circular stained-glass window with radiating patterns, typically set into a stone façade. Its installation is a feat of stereotomy: the art of cutting and assembling stone.
Lancet
A tall, narrow window ending in a point. Grouped in sets of three or five, lancets form the luminous partition of the facades.
Crocket
A small leafy ornament placed like a spike along the edges of pinnacles and arches. The carved stone subtly echoes natural vegetation.
