What is "squinch"

Squinch \Squinch\ (skw[i^]nch), n. [Corrupted fr. sconce.] (Arch.) A small arch thrown across the corner of a square room to support a superimposed mass, as where an octagonal spire or drum rests upon a square tower; -- called also sconce, and sconcheon.

1840 (transitive), of faces; intransitive use from 1843. Perhaps related to squinch "narrow opening in a building" (c.1600). Also compare squink-eyed (1630s), variant of squint-eyed, so perhaps it is at least partly an altered form of squint. Related: Squinched; squinching.

n. (context architecture English) A structure constructed between two adjacent walls to aid in the transition from a polygonal to a circular structure; as when a dome is constructed on top of a square room. vb. to scrunch up (one's face)

1. n. a small arch built across the interior angle of two walls (usually to support a spire)

2. v. crouch down

3. draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf" [syn: flinch, funk, cringe, shrink, wince, recoil, quail]

4. partly close one's eyes; "The children squinted to frighten each other" [syn: squint, cross one's eyes]

A squinch in architecture is a construction filling in the upper angles of a square room so as to form a base to receive an octagonal or spherical dome. Another solution of this structural problem was provided by the pendentive.