Scotia

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈskoʊʃə/

Definitions

1. A geographical feature is a hollow or depression in terrain, while in architecture it denotes a concave molding often situated at the foot of columns, and it can also refer to a distinctive area, particularly one associated with Scotland
2. This term describes a natural or man-made hollow in landforms, represents a specific type of concave molding used in architecture, and can signify a region of notable characteristics linked to Scotland
3. A geographical term refers to a depression in the earth's surface, while in design, it indicates a concave molding found at column bases, and it can also denote a notable region related to Scotland

Etymology: The scotia is a concave molding, a deep hollow curve set between two convex rounds in a column base, and its name comes from the shadow that hollow throws. Latin borrowed the word from Ancient Greek "skotia", meaning "darkness" or "shadowy", and architects used it for the recessed band because that part of the profile sits in shade, while the rounded moldings above and below catch the light. The Latin term was taken over for classical architecture, which is why the word appears in English descriptions of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian bases. English adopted it from Latin, so the word carries the same image of a dark hollow that the Greek did, even though the molding itself is an ordinary part of a column's profile.