Bullnoses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A rounded or beveled edge typically found on the corners of objects or structures
2. the specific shape used in carpentry or architecture to enhance aesthetics
3. a term indicating a design feature that reduces sharpness and increases safety or visual appeal

Etymology: "Bullnoses" is the plural of "bullnose", a compound of "bull" and "nose" that refers to a rounded or beveled edge on the corner of an object or structure. The plural simply names several such edges, typically on tiles, bricks, or masonry, where the profile is shaped to avoid a sharp corner. The "bull" element here is the familiar word for the male of cattle, and it is often used in compounds to mean "large," "heavy," or "blunt." The "nose" is the projecting front edge of a thing, the part that sticks out, as in the nose of a ship. Joined together, the pair describes a blunt, projecting edge: the corner has been rounded off into a shape that suggests a broad, stubby nose rather than a sharp point.