Sable: A black colour used in heraldry (More...)

Sacristy: Safe storage for the church valuables

Saltire: Diagonal cross on a shield used in heraldry (More...)

Sanctuary: Location of the church to the east of the alter rails

Sap: To undermine a wall

Scriptorium: Place in a religious community where manuscripts were written and decorated

See: Ecclesiastical area under control of a bishop

Sepulchre: A tomb

Shaft: the part between the capital and the base of a pillar but usually applied to the small columns clustered around pillars or found in the jambs of doors or windows

Shaft: The main part of a column

Shell Keep: A high circular or many sided keep built on top of a motte with domestic buildings inside

Sheriff: From shire-reeve. The person who represented the workers within the manor

Shield: Used for protection against blows during combat. Made from wood or metal and held by a strap at the rear.

Shingle: Small tiles of wood used to cover a roof

Siege: The blockade of a castle or town to force the surrender of the occupants.

Siege tower: A timber tower sometimes with wheels that attackers used to reach the height of the castle

Sinister: The left side of the shield from the holders viewpoint. Shown on the right when looking at a shield design

Slight: To destroy a castle and make it useless

Slype: Covered walkway between transepts and chapter-house

Solar: The private living quarters of a Lord. Usually next to the great hall

Spandrel: Triangular space above the haunch of an arch

Spingald: War engine used for throwing large arrows. Similar to a ballista.

Spire: Conical construction on top of a tower

Stained Glass: The glass is stained with metallic oxides and painted afterwards with finer details

Stairs: Series of steps made of wood or stone giving access to different floors

Steeple: Combined spire and tower where there is no defined join

Strapwork: Ornament that imitates interlacing bands of leather

String-course: Band, sometimes projecting, of horizontal masonry

Tabard: A tunic having no sleeves and open at the sides that is worn over the armour and decorated to show the wearer's faction

Tenant-in-chief: A lord who has been given land by a king

Thegn: A high-ranking member of the Anglo-Saxon king's family or followers

Tie-beam: Horizontal beam used to hold rafters from spreading

Tintures: Colours, metals and furs used in heraldry

Tracery: Ornamental stonework in a window

Transepts: Located to the north and south of the choir, providing extra chapels and useful for holding the central tower up

Transom: Horizontal division of a window

Trebuchet: Siege engine used to throw large objects

Triforium: The portion of the internal wall of a cathedral above the arcade and below the clerestory that fronts the area above aisles

Turret: A small tower

Tympanum: Space between the lintel of a doorway and an arch above it

Undercroft: The crypt below the church