shaft-length

Updated: May 22, 2025

But let it be supposed that the structure at a, being of the required projection, is found too weak: then we may strengthen it in one of three ways; by putting a second or third stone beneath it, as at b; by giving it a spur, as at c; by giving it a shaft and another bracket below, d; the great use of this arrangement being that the lowermost bracket has the help of the weight of the shaft-length of wall above its insertion, which is, of course, greater than the weight of the small shaft: and then the lower bracket may be farther helped by the structure at b or c.

John Ruskin - The Stones of Venice, Volume I (of 3)