THO] f 142 ) 



wood as a substance in tension. See " Tie Beam." In 

 the instance of iron it is clearly expressed by " tie-rod." 

 " Tension " is the opposite of " compression " (which see), 

 and both are distinct in action from " transverse strain " 

 (ivhich see). 



Tessslated Tiles or Floors. Highly ornamented floors, composed 

 of self-coloured tiles or tesserce worked into geometrical 

 patterns. The tesserce, not always cubical in form, may be 

 marble, precious stones, ivory, glass, wood or mother-of- 

 pearl. The mosaic floors, etc., of the ancients were of the 

 above materials, and they are still being wrought of the 

 highest artistic order ; instance, the chapels, etc., of West- 

 minster Cathedral. See " Encaustic Tiles." 



Tewart or Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala), or ' "White 

 Gum." A West Australian strong and heavy wood. 



Thack-tile or tiles. An old term, the origin of which is worn on 

 its sleeve, and came to be applied to their substitutes or 

 successors" tiles " and " slates." See " Thatch," " Thatch- 

 peg," " Tiles," " Slates." 



Tliatch or Thack. A primitive covering or protection against the 

 weather. "Straw," "rushes," ''reeds," "heath," etc., 

 used for roofing or covering buildings, or stacks of hay or 

 grain ; a form of roof-covering not allowed in towns, and 

 disappearing in rural districts from the difficulty of insuring 

 such property against fire. 'See " Thack-tile " and " Thatch- 

 peg." 



Thatch or Thack-peg or pegs. Small stems or branches of trees 

 riven or entire, used in connection with thatch cord usually 

 tarred for pegging down thatch as security against the action 

 of wind. See " Thatch " and " Thack-tile." 



Thicket. A wood or collection of trees or shrubs closely set or 

 crowded with trees, implying a thick wood or, in a larger sense, 

 a thick forest. 



Thick Stuff. Converted timber 4i in. and upwards in thickness. 

 See " Stuff, Thick and Thin," and " Thin Stuff." 



Thin Stuff. Converted wood not exceeding 4 in. in thickness. 

 See " Thick Stuff "and" Stuff, Thick and Thin." 



Thorn. A tree or shrub armed with sharp ligneous shoots, as the 

 black-thorn, white-thorn, sallow-thorn, buck-thorn, etc. 

 Some districts Lincolnshire, for instance have place- 

 names beginning or ending with " wood," and well endowed 

 with those of " thorn." It is presumed they register a time, 

 now forgotten, when " wood " and " thorn " were inter- 

 changeable terms. 



