What is "bossage"

Bossage \Boss"age\, n. [F. bossage, fr. bosse. See Boss a stud.]

1. (Arch.) A stone in a building, left rough and projecting, to be afterward carved into shape.
   --Gwilt.

2. (Arch.) Rustic work, consisting of stones which seem to advance beyond the level of the building, by reason of indentures or channels left in the joinings.
   --Gwilt.

n. (context architecture English) A rough, unfinished stone block, which is left projecting from the wall of a building to be later sculpted.

Bossage is uncut stone that is laid in place in a building, projecting outward from the building, to later be carved into decorative moldings, capitals, arms, etc. Bossages are also rustic work, consisting of stones which seem to advance beyond the surface of the building, by reason of indentures, or channels left in the joinings; used chiefly in the corners of buildings, and called rustic quoins. The cavity or indenture may be round, square, chamfered, beveled, diamond-shaped, or enclosed with a cavetto or listel.