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The board which receives the ends of the steps in a staircase.

A platform of a staircase where the stair turns at a right angle only. See Halfpace.

l or nearly so, extending from one post or support to another, as in fences, balustrades, staircases, etc.

To inclination of anything from a perpendicular direction; as, the rake of a roof, a staircase, etc.; especially (Naut.,

sloping member, other than a purely constructional one, such as a continuous parapet to a staircase.

The under side of the subordinate parts and members of buildings, such as staircases, entablatures, archways, cornices, or the like. See Illust. of Lintel.

The head or top of a staircase.

A flight of stairs or steps; a staircase. "A rude and narrow stairway." Moore.

A work usually in the form of a redan, to inclose a space before a door or staircase, or at the gorge of a larger work. It is arranged like a stockade.

A kind of movable stepladder. Knight. Trap stairs, a staircase leading to a trapdoor. -- Trap tree (Bot.) the jack; -- so called because it furnishes a kind of birdlime. See 1st Jack.

An opening through the floors of a building, as for a staircase or an elevator; a wellhole.

The open space in a floor, to accommodate a staircase.

Scalaria, especially Scalaria pretiosa, which was formerly highly valued; -- called also staircase shell. See Scalaria.

ians, consisting of a lofty pyramidal structure, built in successive stages, with outside staircases, and a shrine at the top.