squinch

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

squinch, n. [Corrupted fr. sconce.].

 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.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

squinch, n. a straight or arched structure across an interior angle of a square tower to carry a superstructure, e.g. a dome.

Etymology

var. of obs. scunch, abbr. of SCUNCHEON