ground plan (ground plan)

1. In arch., the representation of the divisions of a building at the level of the surface of the ground; commonly, the plan of the lowest story above the lowest horizontal timber of a frame, which receives the other timbers of a wooden ereetion; the groundsill.-2. In railway eng in., a bed-plate used under sleepers or ties in some kinds of ground. E. H. Knight.-3. An earth plate or piece of metal sunk in the ground to form the connection "to earth" from a tel egraph-wire. Gasor water-mains are often made to serve as ground-plates. ground-plot (ground'plot), n. 1. The ground on which a building is placed. Where canst thou find any small ground - plot for hope to dwell upon? Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, ii. 2. Same as ground - plan, 1. Men skilled in architecture might do what we did not attempt; they might probably form an exact ground - plot of this venerable edifice. Johnson , Jour. to Western Isles. ground-plum (ground'plum), n. A leguminous plant, Astragalus caryocarpus , found in the upper valley of the Mi i ippi. Its thick corky pods resemble a plum in shape and size. ground-rat (ground'rat), n. An African rodent of the genus Aulacodus , A. swinderianus. Also called ground- pig . See cut under Aulacodus . ground-rent (ground'rent), n. The rent at which land is let for building purposes. It is a common practice of owners of land in large cities who wish a permanent fixed income without care of buildings and frequent changes of tenants to let vacant land on long leases, with covenants for renewal, and with stipulations that the le ee shall build, and may remove the building before the end of the term, or shall allow the le or to take it at an appraisal. In country houses, at a distance from any great town, where there is plenty of ground to choose upon, the ground rent is scarce any thing. Adam Smith , Wealth of Nations, v. 2. ground-robin (ground'robin), n. Same as che wink.