volute

Meanings

Noun

• The characteristic spiral curve on an Ionic capital, widely copied in other styles and in neoclassical architecture.
• The spirals or whorls on a gastropod's shell.
• Any marine gastropod of the family Volutidae.
• The casing in a centrifugal pump, whose shape is somewhat similar to architectural volutes.
• A spiral or scroll form.
• A scroll-shaped carving at the tuning head of a stringed musical instrument, similar to architectural volutes.

Adjective

• Of a spring: having a spiral curve on its tail.

Origin

• From French volute, from Italian voluta, from Latin volūta, from the feminine of volūtus, perfect passive participle of volvō. vault.