Encyclopedia

Earth floor

Earth floor

A hard-packed clay floor used in early dwellings.
Illustrated Dictionary of Architecture Copyright © 2012, 2002, 1998 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

earth floor

In many types of primitive dwellings, a floor providing a reasonably durable walking surface, and that was usually composed of a compacted mixture of earth, ashes, clay (if available), with additives such as lime, pebbles, or straw. Another addition–animal blood–was once thought to improve the stability of the compacted soil. Also see rammed earth.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Mentioned in
References in classic literature
Instantly all within was illuminated for a brief second before the burning brand was dashed out against the earth floor.
There was also a very small grating which let in a very little fresh air: the massive foundations had been tunnelled in one place; a rude alcove was the result, with this grating at the end and top of it, some seven feet above the earth floor. Even had I been able to wrench away the bars, it would have availed me nothing, since the aperture formed the segment of a circle whose chord was but a very few inches long.
When he was gone, Tibo threw himself upon the earth floor and broke into childish sobs of terror and loneliness.
The earth floor had sunk in at one place, making a natural grave, so we left Achmet the merchant there, having first covered him over with loose bricks.
Historians, archaeologists and schoolchildren were thrilled during the first day of the dig on Albrighton village green when, five layers down, they discovered a compacted earth floor.
"Most interesting was when we got to the fifth layer down we found a beaten earth floor and another wall.
The novel soars with passages about upper Michigan's unique beauty, as well as through Abbie's instinctive love for nature and her captivating excitement as she steps into a cider house, with its "sweet dank warmth and the powerful smells of a packed earth floor, crushed apples, and hay." Hard Cider is a story about following a dream, but not without the planning and perspective needed to turn passion into reality.
Characters shift and develop gradually, like sunlight moving across the earth floor of the stone house in which Mary lies after her ordeal.
The funding will help bring the Dead House back to life, by restoring leaded glass windows, protecting masonry which contains 19th century graffiti and replacing the earth floor with one made from re-used headstones.
San Quintin, Mexico-- Huddled around a single flickering candle in a tiny wood and cardboard shack on scrubland in Mexico's northwest, laborer Genaro Perfecto and his family prepared to bed down for the night on a bare earth floor.
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.