Parallel to the horizon. From side to side, rather than up or down.

An institution where care, nursing, and surgery are performed for the sick and injured. May be government or privately owned.

A window that opens inwardly from bottom hinges and has hoppers (draft preventers) on its sides.

See: Warm Air Heating System.

A tank, usually glass lined, in which water is heated for household, commercial, or industrial use.

A heating system using circulating hot water from a boiler through a series of pipes to the areas to be heated, and back to the boiler.

Originally, any place for travelers to spend the night. Any hotel built today would be a multi-storied structure having sleeping rooms with private bathrooms, suites, telephones in each rentable room, at least one restaurant, and many other amenities.

A flow of one miner’s inch for one hour. The value of a miner’s inch is not standard, being 1/40th of a cubic foot per second in some areas, and 1/50th of a cubic foot per second in others.

Any building used as a residence. When in the phrase “the house of”, it is usually used to describe a commercial business (from the French “chez”).

The sewage system from the public sewer in the street to and in the house it serves.

A federal agency created in 1947. A forerunner of HUD, having many of the same powers and duties.

The federal department responsible for the major housing programs in the United States, such as F.H.A.

See: Building Code.

A government agency that provides counseling and assistance to individuals on issues such as loan default, fair housing, and home buying.

Number of houses on which construction has begun. The figures are used to determine the availability of housing, need for real estate loans, need for labor and materials, etc.

See: Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of.

Also known as a settlement sheet. It itemizes all closing costs; must be given to the borrower at or before closing.

A unit, usually part of a heating system, which raises the relative humidity in a room or building by the emission of water vapor into the air.

Low mounds or conical knolls rising above the ground.

The organic portion of soil, formed by partially decomposed animal and vegetable matter.

An appraisal term referring either to land of the highest value in an area, or land best suited to a specific use.