Scottish Sash Window Glossary

Understanding traditional terminology makes research and conservation discussions easier. A sash is the moving glazed frame; the case is the fixed surrounding assembly.

Understanding the details

Other terms include meeting rail (where sashes meet), staff bead (inner retaining strip), parting bead (separator), glazing bar (pane divider), sash cord (balance cord), pulley stile (case member), sill (lower weathering member), and horn (projection at a sash joint).

What to look for

Terminology can vary by region and trade; confirm meanings in the context of the source you are reading.

Frame and sash terms

Case: the fixed outer box. Sash: the movable glazed frame. Stile: vertical sash member. Rail: horizontal sash member. Meeting rail: the point where upper and lower sashes meet. Sill: lower water-shedding member.

Glazing and finishing terms

Glazing bar: timber dividing panes. Putty: traditional glazing bedding and weather seal. Horn: projecting extension at certain sash joints. Moulding: shaped decorative or functional timber profile.

Balancing and guidance terms

Pulley: wheel carrying the sash cord. Sash cord: line connecting sash and counterweight. Weight pocket: access to the concealed weight. Staff bead: inner retaining strip. Parting bead: strip separating sash tracks.

Related archive guides

Continue with our window anatomy guide, technical glossary and research resources. This educational material is general guidance, not a substitute for a property-specific conservation assessment.