plinth, plinthe

[Lat. plinth us, from Greek plinthos a brick, a tile, a plinth; Fr. plinthe; Ital. & Sp. plinto.] Arch .: A square member forming the lower division of the base of a column, .; also the plain projecting face at the bottom of a wall, immediately above the ground. In Gothic architecture the plinth is occasionally divided into two stages, the tops of which are either splayed or finished with a hollow molding, or are covered by the base moldings. The square footing below the bases of Ionic and Corinthian columns. In Grecian architecture plinths do not appear to have been employed, the bases of the columns resting upon the upper step of the building.