noun
- Plural of lierne; secondary ribs in vaulting that connect the main ribs to the boss or to each other, used in Gothic architecture.
Usage: architecture; technical; chiefly historical
Examples
- The cathedral's ceiling featured intricate liernes that created a complex web of stone ribs.
- Medieval architects used liernes to add decorative and structural complexity to their vaulted ceilings.
- The liernes in this Gothic chapel connect the main ribs in an elaborate geometric pattern.
- Scholars study the placement of liernes to understand the evolution of Gothic vault design.