plinth

noun

ˈplin(t)th 

1

a

: the lowest member of a base : subbase

b

: a block upon which the moldings of an architrave or trim are stopped at the bottom

2

: a usually square block serving as a base

broadly : any of various bases or lower parts

3

: a course of stones forming a continuous foundation or base course

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Plinth and Architecture

"These ivy-clad arcades — / These mouldering plinths ... are they all — / All of the famed, and the colossal left…?" In these lines from "The Coliseum," Edgar Allan Poe alludes to a practical feature of classical architecture. The plinth serves the important purpose of raising the base of the column it supports above the ground, thus protecting it from dampness and mold. The humble plinth is usually a mere thick block. It's humbly named, too, for the Greek word plinthos means simply "tile" or "brick." English writers have used plinth, a shortened version of the Latin form plinthus, since the mid-16th century. The word's meaning was later extended to bases for statues, vases, or busts.

Examples of plinth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Orbit Theory is a turntable that looks fantastic, with its low profile, solid hardwood plinth. —Brad Moon, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024

Commemorative sculpture historically has been on plinths, Branch notes. —Ken Maguire, Chicago Tribune, 30 Nov. 2024

Red paint was splattered across its plinth and at the base of Queen Victoria’s royal robes, as captured in footage shared by Sky News Australia. —Janine Henni, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024

The turntable's plinth is finished in black ash veneer, and the system comes with a hinged dust cover. —New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin plinthus, from Greek plinthos

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Kids Definition

plinth

noun

ˈplin(t)th 

1

: the lowest part of the base of an architectural column

2

: a block used as a base (as for a vase)