Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A subordinate rib used in Gothic vaulting to connect the intersections and bosses of the primary ribs.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In architecture, any rib in vaulting that does not rise from the impost, and is not a ridge-rib, but passes from a boss or intersection of the principal ribs to other secondary ribs. Vaults in which such ribs are employed are called lierne vaults.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from lier, to bind, from Old French; see liable.]

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