Forms: α. 4–6 voute (5 woute), 4–6 (9 Sc.) vout (5 wout); 5–6 vowte (5 wowte), 5 (9 Sc.) vowt; 5 voghte (woȝte), 6 vowght, vought. β. 5 (6 Sc.) woult, 6 voulte, voult; 5–7 volt (5 Sc. volut), 5–6 wolte, Sc. wolt. γ. 4 vavte, 4–7 vawte, 5–6 vaute; 4–7 vaut (5 vavtt), vawt, 6 vaught, vawght. δ. 6 valte, vaulte, valt, 6– vault. [a. OF. voute, voulte, volte, vaulte, vaute (mod.F. voûte), = Prov. volta, vouta, vota, It. and Pg. volta:—pop.L. *volta, ppl. sb. f. L. volvĕre to turn. Cf. VOLT sb.
It is not clear at what date the l finally established itself in the standard pronunciation of this word and sb.2, together with the related verbs, etc. As in the case of fault, there is some tendency towards the use of a short vowel (vǫlt) in all the forms.]
1. A structure of stones or bricks so combined as to support each other over a space and serve as a roof or covering to this; an arched surface covering some space or area in the interior of a building, and usually supported by walls or pillars; an arched roof or ceiling.
The two chief varieties are the barrel or cylindric(al) vault and the groined vault.
α. 1387. Charters of Edinb. (1871), 35. The voute abovyn Sant Stevinys auter.
1424. E. E. Wills (1882), 58. Þe voute of Okeham stepil.
c. 1440. Alph. Tales, 454. In a were tyme þai war sett aboue a vowte in þe kurk.
1491. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 181. To the massonis of the Palis, in drink-siluer for the pendin of three voutis, iij vnicornis.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Esdras xvi. 59. He spredeth out the heauen like a vowte.
1539–40. in Devon N. & Q. (1903), Oct., 238. Hewyng of tymber for the lytell chamber vought att Powderham.
1595. Duncan, App. Etym. (E.D.S.). Camera, a vowte.
1828. Moir, Mansie Wauch, x. 89. Feint a hair cared he about auld kirks, or kirkyards, or vouts, or through-stanes.
1901. Trotter, Galloway Gossip, 239. He … cam on a vowt biggit wi’ stane an lime.
β. c. 1400. Sc. Trojan War, II. 2434. It had vnder erd but weir Standand woltis & cavis seir.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, IX. viii. 114. Sa sairly knyt that maner embuchement Semyt to be a clos volt quhar thai went.
1538. Leland, Itin. (1769), I. 18. The riche Cardinal of Winchester gildid all the Floures and Knottes in the Voulte of the Chirch.
1563. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 247. The wallis … ar revin, and the volt thairthrow partit, neir hand the ane side from the uther.
γ. 13[?]. K. Alis., 7197 (Laud MS.). Þe toures maken, & þe torels, Vavtes, Alures, & þe kirnels.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 81. Vawtes of stoonwerk wonderliche i-wrouȝt.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xxviii. 581. See you yonder vawte by the grete hous?
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 476. Enuawtyd with rubies the vawte was of this place.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xvi. 50 b. There are conduit pypes…, supported some by vautes, and othersom by … pillars.
1609. Bible (Douay), 1 Kings vii. 3. He decked the whole vaut with bordes of ceder.
c. 1640. J. Smyth, Lives Berkeleys (1883), II. 66. The walls, vautes,… and windows they razed and teare a down.
δ. . Elyot, Arcus,… the vault of a roufe.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 114 b. They set a young man … above over the vaulte of the churche.
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xxiv. 65. The arcenal … bath neare an hundreth arches or vaultes to builde and hale the gallies vnder couer and drye.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, II. xiii. 112. With a slender covering of mats or straw, they are better preserved from the heate, than in Spaine vnder a roofe of wood, or a vault of stone.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 271. I did intend here to have added something about the Arching of Vaults, but … shall … omit speaking of Vaults in this Exercise.
1750. Gray, Elegy, 39. The long-drawn isle and fretted vault.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 42. The vault of the king’s own chapel at St. James.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xx. The shadow of the ribbed and darksome vault, with which veneration … had canopied its source.
1840. Parker, Gloss. Archit. (ed. 5), I. 506. In groined vaults the arches which cross each other do not always correspond in width.
b. transf. An arching roof or covering resembling a structure of this kind.
a. 1470. Tiptoft, Caesar, xii. (1530), 14. vii Legions made in a maner a vaut to hyde them.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 405. A man shall see the drops of water become stone, as they hang to the very vaults of the rocke.
1706. Addison, Rosamond, II. iv. At length the bowery vaults appear!
1773. Cook’s Voy., I. xvi. (Hawksworth), II. 172. They frequently passed under vaults, formed by fragments of the rock.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 557. The net is tightened…, and forms a grand vault over the whole cherry garden.
1872. Ruskin, Eagle’s N., § 137. The coloured segments of globe out of which foam is constituted, are portions of spherical vaults constructed of fluent particles.
1877. Bryant, Little People of Snow, 151. And now the white walls widened, and the vault Swelled upward, like some vast cathedral dome.
c. The apparent concave surface formed by the sky. Chiefly poet. and usually with defining terms.
1586. Sidney, Ps. XIX. vii. His [the sun’s] race is ev’n, from endes of heav’n, About that vault he goeth.
1591. Spenser, M. Hubberd, 1229. From whence he vewes … Whatso the heauen in his wide vawte containes.
1605. Shaks., Lear, V. iii. 259. Had I your tongues and eyes, Il’d vse them so, That Heauens vault should crack.
1656. Cowley, Pindar. Odes, Nemean Ode, ii. Through earth, and ayr, and Seas, and up to th’ heavenly Vault.
1737. Pope, Hor. Epist., I. vi. 5. This Vault of Air, this congregated Ball, Self-center’d Sun, and Stars that rise and fall.
1781. Cowper, Hope, 79. When evening turns the blue vault grey.
1840. Lardner, Geom., 215. The intersection of the plane of the water with the hemispherical celestial vault.
1869. J. Martineau, Ess., II. 229. The vault of the nocturnal sky.
1874. Sayce, Compar. Philol. viii. 331. The bright vault of heaven.
d. Anat. One or other of certain concave structures or surfaces normally facing downwards.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 150. Vessels and instruments, which serue the brayne,… amongest the which there is … another called a vault, both in respect of the fashion and of the vse.
1831. R. Knox, Cloquet’s Anat., 95. This vault is formed by the nasal bones and the nasal processes of the maxillary bones. Ibid., 423. The posterior lobes and the vault of the hemispheres of the cerebrum.
1849. H. Miller, Footpr. Creat., iv. (1874), 45. The upper and middle portions of the cranial vault.
1875. Encycl. Brit., I. 812/2. He … distinguishes the posterior pillars of the vault from the pedes hippocampi.
2. An enclosed space covered with an arched roof; esp. a lower or underground apartment or portion of a building constructed in this form.
α, β. 1396–7. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 600. Pro cariac[ione] vj11 lad. petr[arum] … pro le vout.
14[?]. Dorothe, 101, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1878), 192. Sche scholde not scape so sone, he thowȝt; He put here in prison in a voghte.
c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., IV. 1195. Alle the preson, whiche had vowtes seuene, Was light that tyme right of his presens.
1513. Bradshaw, St. Werburge, II. 404. The buyldynge of olde antiquite In cellers and lowe voultes, and halles of realte.
1554–5. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., X. 268. To ressave voultis fra the monkes to put in lyme. Ibid. (1558), 432. For carying of the foirsaid furnesing … to ane wolt.
1616. Extr. Aberd. Rec. (1898), II. 339. To mack ane hewin doir in the mid wall, betuixt the northmest voult and the southermest voult.
γ. 1422. Yonge, trans. Secreta Secret., 153. He commaundid to kepe his chylde … and that hit were Enclosid in a vaut of stone.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, Pref. 2. The grete stones & meruaylous werkys of yron lyeng vnder the grounde & ryal vautes.
1503. Hawes, Examp. Virt., xiii. 276. Than went we doune to an other vaute.
1534. in Archæol. Cant. VII. 286. In the Vawt where the Moncks do dyne. j olde table [etc.].
1584. Star Chamber Decrees Print. & Stat. (1863), 11. That no presse be used in vaut or secret place, but such as may easily and openly be found in search.
1602. Campion, Bk. Airs, Wks. (Bullen), 2. That man needs neither towers … Nor secret vauts to fly From thunder’s violence.
fig. 1545. Bale, Image Both Ch., I. xvii. R viij b. So throwing them selues into a moste confuse Chaos or vawte of double dotage.
δ. 1603. G. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1892), 77. These vaultes are alltogether neclected.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., II. 84. They make their little Vaults very quickly, and in building of them use Timber as with us.
1698. Keill, Exam. Th. Earth (1734), 117. In Vaults and Caves there is no sensible alteration of heat in Summer and Winter.
1794. Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxvi. From the steps they proceeded through a passage adjoining the vaults.
1836. Emerson, Nature, Wks. (Bohn), II. 151. A paper currency is employed, when there is no bullion in the vaults.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., II. xi. 113. The thermometer inside was at +90°, and the vault [= hut] measured fifteen feet by six.
b. A place of this kind used as a cellar or storeroom for provisions or liquors.
1500. in J. Latimer, Merch. Vent. Bristol (1903), 34. In his mansion or shop or in celers or vawts yt he holdeth … in fee.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 42. In our dayes we vse to keepe both Wine and Grayne in suche vaultes.
1600. Nashe, Summers Last Will, 1188. Bacchus, for thou abusest so earths fruits, Impris’ned liue in cellars and in vawtes.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., 45. Most of them three Stories high, with very noble Lodgings, Store-Houses, Vaults and Stables belonging to them.
1699. Pomfret, Poems, The Choice. I’d have a little Vault, but always stor’d With the best Wines each Vintage could afford.
1730. Swift, Panegyrick on Dean, Wks. 1751, IV. I. 136. When to the vault you walk in state, In quality of butler’s mate.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 120. Among other cellars, there is one which perhaps has not its equal…. This vault communicates with another.
1880. Miss Braddon, Just as I am, xxxvi. The wine cellar at the Homestead was not a stately vault.
fig. 1605. Shaks., Macb., II. iii. 101. The Wine of Life is drawne, and the meere Lees Is left this Vault, to brag of.
3. † a. An arched space under the floor of a church, used for ecclesiastical purposes; a crypt.
c. 1400. Maundev. (Roxb.), xiv. 61. Vnder þe kirk also es a vowte, whare Cristen men dwellez.
a. 1490. Botoner, Itin. (1778), 176. The second way goth rygh est by the woult of Seynt Johnys chyrch.
1503–4. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 252. Payd for a stay bar of yerryn to stay the Nev pevys [= pews] in to þe vavtt.
1511. Guylforde’s Pilgr. (Camden), 31. A very fayre churche,… wherein we descendyd into a wonder fayre vaught.
b. A burial chamber (originally with arched roof), usually altogether or partly under ground.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 223. After he was remoued to Winsore and there in a new vawte newly intumilate.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., V. iii. 86. Here lies Iuliet, and her beautie makes This Vault a feasting presence full of light.
1606. Birnie, Kirk-Buriall, x. For some there was that to the imitation of Abraham, made vp little caues or voltes, for buriall vse.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 379. Hee purposed … that his bones should bee bestowed in an arched vault made under the chancell of Saint Peters Church in Oxford.
1722. Lond. Gaz., No. 6084/7. The Body was deposited in the Vault.
1749. in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874), 81. Mrs. Jean Mercer … lyes … opposite to the Duke of Roxburghs vault.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., Wks. V. 172. In as few years their successors will go to the family vault of ‘all the Capulets.’
1832. W. Irving, Alhambra, I. 187. ‘Now,’ said the priest, ‘you must help me to bring forth the bodies that are to be buried in this vault.’
1843. Penny Cycl., XXV. 37/1. A vault cannot properly be made either in the church or churchyard, without the consent of the ordinary signified by a faculty. Ibid. A vault may be attached by prescription to a mansion.
1870. F. R. Wilson, Ch. Lindisf., 61. The vaults beneath the Chancel, sometimes called the dead-house.
† 4. a. A covered conduit for carrying away water or filth; a drain or sewer. Obs.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 1607. The water … Gosshet through Godardys & other grete vautes, And clensit by course all þe clene Cite.
1533. MS. Rawl. D. 776, lf. 131 b. Makyng of new vawtis of bryk to Conevaye the water Commyng frome the leades of the said Castell vnder the said new wharff.
1567. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. III. ii. 154. The gouernors … shall viewe the comen sewer or vawt at the seid house.
1596. Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 53. A goodly Jakes within the town with a vault to conevey all filth into the Tiber.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 8 Feb. 1645. The streetes … having many vaults and conveyances under them for the sullage.
† b. A cistern. Obs.–1
1552. Huloet, Vault or place to receaue rayne water, impluuium.
† c. A necessary-house; a privy. Obs.
1617. J. Taylor (Water P.), Trav. Lond. to Hamburgh, Wks. (1630), 80/2. The Hangman … hath the emptying of all the vaults or draughts in the city.
1665. Orders Ld. Mayor Lond., in De Foe, Plague (Rtldg.), 64. That no Nightman … be suffered to empty a Vault into any Garden.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Vault, an … House of Office.
5. A natural cavern, cave, or overarched space; † a deep hole or pit.
1535. Coverdale, Isaiah vii. 19. These shall come, and shal light all in the valeyes, in ye vowtes of stone.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1413/2. The hole or vaut being sometimes filled with water, and otherwhiles neither bottome, trees, or water maie be perceiued.
1593. Norden, Spec. Brit., Cornw. (1728), 40. A holl or deepe vaute in the grounde wherinto the sea floweth at high water verie farr under the earth.
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 11. This City is of a round forme, compassed of all sides with Mountaines, having many Vauts or Caves under it.
1691. Ray, Creation, I. (1692), 127. Some should digg Vaults and Holes in the Earth, as Rabbets, to secure themselves and their Young.
1796. H. Hunter, trans. St.-Pierre’s Stud. Nat. (1799), III. 274. In the burning entrails of which … the fire-consumed Ætnean vaults incessantly thunder.
1854. Brewster, More Worlds, iii. 61. It is from the deep vaults to which primæval life has been consigned that the history of the dawn of life is to be composed.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. v. 38. The vault at the end of the glacier.
transf. 1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 29. Moreouer in the interiour part of the wrest, we finde a broad, and deepe cauitie,… through the which are concurrent, not a small number of tendons of Muscles, to be inserted to the ioyntes of the fingers. And in this vawte, or hollow, they seeme as it were included, or locked up.
† b. To go to the vault: (see quot.). Obs.
1576. Turberv., Venerie, 165. I haue seene [hares] that woulde take the ground like a Coney (whiche is called goyng to the vault) when they haue beene hunted.
6. techn. The inner portion of a steel furnace.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 341. Inside the conical building is a smaller furnace, called the vault, built of fire-brick or stone…. D D, in the section, is the dome of the vault.
1884. W. H. Greenwood, Steel & Iron, 409. The temperature in each furnace is regulated by closing or opening the small flues in the arch of the vault.
7. attrib. and Comb., as vault beam, -cover, door, fashion, height, -like adj., pier, etc.
1611. Bible, 1 Kings vi. 9, marg. [He covered] the *vault beams and the sielings with Cedar.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2694/1. A *vault-cover with glass bull’s-eyes or prisms.
1553–4. Extr. Burgh Rec. Edinb. (1871), II. 345. Ane greit loke to the *wolt dure of Sanct Thomas ile.
1552. Huloet, Vaultyng or makyng a worke … *vault fascion, concameratio.
1616. Extr. Aberd. Rec. (1848), II. 338. The said Thomas … sall big the same of the breidth of the haill tolbuith quhill it be *voult hight.
1847. Dickens, Haunted M., i. His dwelling was so solitary and *vault-like.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-Bks. (1872), I. 50. Whenever we emerged into the vault-like streets.
1905. F. Bond, Gothic Architecture, 58. Nowhere is the result plainer than in the construction of the Gothic *vault pier.
c. 1630. Donne, Serm., cli. Wks. 1839, VI. 73. These particular Spirits in their *Vault-prayers and Cellar-service shake the pillars of State and Church.
1887. Browning, Parleyings, Wks. 1907, XVI. 113. *Vault-roof reverberates, groans the ground!
1843. Tizard, Brewing, 469. The brewer … who possesses storage, cellarage, or *vault-room.
1890. C. H. Moore, Gothic Archit., ii. 52. Arches which … sustain the *vault shells.
1480. Caxton, Trevisa’s Higden, I. xlviii. (1527), 47. A thre chambred hous made of *vawte stones.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The several Voussoirs, or Vault-stones whereof it [an arch] consists.
1900. H. Sutcliffe, Shameless Wayne, ii. The Wayne vault-stone stared blue and cold at the cold moon.
a. 1610. G. Babington, Wks. (1615), II. 46. That late thrice-damnable Powder-Treason, or *Vault-Treason: What name might it haue answerable to the iniquitie of it?
1585. T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., II. xxi. 58. [A] building round & strongly set vp *vawtwise in form of the Hemispherike.
1611. Cotgr., Retombe,… a flat vault, or a roome thats made vault-wise.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 67. Their Cabans, or Huts, which are covered vault-wise, are built half under-ground.
1844. Blackw. Mag., LVI. 208. Every brilliant pair finished … was briskly strung up on cobwebs, with which the cart, vaultwise, was interwoven.
1614. Purchas, Pilgrimage, VI. v. 584. This Temple was borne vp with *Vault-worke.
1726. Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 35/2. Pit-sand … they use … in Vault-work, but not in plaistering.
