Editing Abacus (architecture) (section)

{{Short description|Architecture term for a flat slab forming the uppermost part of a column}}

[[Image:Nouveau Larousse illustré, 1898, I (page 22-1 crop).jpg|thumb|300px|1898 illustration of abacuses of many capitals in various styles]]
In [[architecture]], an '''abacus''' (from the [[Ancient Greek]] {{Lang|grc|ἄβαξ}} ({{Transliteration|grc|ábax}}), {{gloss|slab}}; or [[French language|French]] {{Lang|fr|abaque}}, {{Lang|fr|tailloir}}; {{plural form}}: '''abacuses''' or '''abaci''')<ref name = SOED>{{harvnb|Brown|1993|p=2}}</ref> is a flat slab forming the uppermost member or division of the [[Capital (architecture)|capital]] of a [[column]], above the [[Capital (architecture)|bell]].  Its chief function is to provide a large supporting surface, tending to be wider than the capital, as an [[abutment]] to receive the weight of the [[arch]] or the [[architrave]] above. The diminutive of abacus, '''abaculus''', is used to describe small [[mosaic]] tiles, also called '''abaciscus''' or '''[[tessera]]''', used to create ornamental floors with detailed patterns of chequers or squares in a [[tessellated]] pavement.