Southwest Dictionary

Quick Reference:

Adobe
Arroyo
Banco
Canale
Corbel
Horno
Kiva Fireplace
Latilla
Lintel
Nicho
Portal
Saltillo Tile
Stucco
Talavera Tile
Viga

adobe mud brick sun dried used as building material stucco
Adobe - (a-doe'-bee) A sun dried mud brick used as a building material.
Arroyo
Arroyo - (a-roy-o) Dry riverbed that fills occasionally during our rainy season. Avoid building in arroyos!
banco adobe bench kiva fireplace portal
Banco - (bawn'-co) A bench built from adobe usually covered with plaster, sometimes built beside the kiva fireplace or on a portal.
canale spout protrudes from roof that carries rain water off a flat pueblo roof
Canale - (ka-nal'-lee) A spout, which protrudes from the roof that carries rain water off a flat pueblo roof.
corbel sculptured beam lying on top of a post decorative
Corbel - (kor'-bell) A short sculptured beam lying on top of a post, principally decorative.
horno adobe bread oven found at most pueblos and indian native american homes
Horno - (hor'-no) A Freestanding adobe bread oven found at most pueblos and Indian homes.
kiva fireplace sculptured beehive shaped fireplace
Kiva Fireplace - (kee'-va) A sculptured beehive-shaped fireplace.
latilla small branches used as ceiling planking between vigas made of aspen pine or cedar
Latilla - (la-tee'-ya) Small branches used as ceiling planking, usually between vigas which are made of aspen, pine, or cedar.
lintel exposed beam at the top of a window or door
Lintel - (lin'-tel) An exposed beam at the top of a window or door.
nicho sculptured indentation in the wall used to display art work
Nicho - (nee'-cho) A sculptured indentation in the wall used to display art work.
portal outdoor patio covered by a roof supported by posts
Portal - (por-tal') An outdoor patio covered by a roof supported by posts.
saltillo tile fired earthen tile made in mexico
Saltillo tile - (sal-tee'-yo) A fired earthen tile made in Mexico.
stucco final color coat plastered on exterior of an adobe style building
Stucco - (stu'-ko) Final color coat plastered on exterior of an adobe-style building.
talavera tile colorful hand decorated mexican tile used for counter tops and trim
Talavera Tile - (tal'-a-ver-a) Colorful hand-decorated Mexican tile used for counter tops and trim.
viga round log used as ceiling beams usually pine or spruce
Viga - (vee'-ga) A log used as ceiling beams, usually pine or spruce.