ASHLAR

ashlar, also written ashler, ashelere, &c. (probably from lat. _axilla_, diminutive of _axis_, an axle), hewn or squared stone, generally applied to that used for facing walls. in a contract of date 1398 we read--"murus erit exterius de puro lapide vocato _achilar_, plane incisso, interius vero de lapide fracto vocato _roghwall_." "clene hewen ashler" often occurs in medieval documents; this no doubt means tooled or finely worked, in contradistinction to rough-axed faces. an "ashlar piece" in building is an upright piece of timber framed between the common rafters and the wall plate.