Arch. A cylindrical ceiling, roof or vault.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Builder, 430. Ceilings, formed simply of cylindric surfaces, are termed, by mechanics, waggon-heads.
1874. Micklethwaite, Mod. Par. Churches, 215. The best general form is that of a polygonal ‘waggon-head’ of five or seven sides.
b. attrib. or as adj.
1842. Penny Cycl., XXII. 482/2. Watt adopted a long rectangular form, with a semi-cylindrical top…. From this form it is termed the waggon-head boiler.
1870. M. A. Lower, Hist. Sussex, I. 242. The whole of the building has now a wagon-head ceiling in pannelled oak.
Hence Wagon-headed a.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Builder, 114. Lunettes … are made either in waggon-headed ceilings, or through large coves.
1897. F. J. Burgoyne, Library Constr., 192. A richly moulded waggon-headed roof.
