rat-trap bond
n.— «The southern and western walls of the building, which face the sun during the day, have been built using a type of masonry called the rat-trap bond. Popularised by the iconic architect Laurie Baker who died last week, this is a special arrangement of bricks that leaves air gaps between walls. The two-layered construction prevents transmission of heat from the outer to the inner wall. It also saves on the use of bricks.» —“The coolest building in town” by Raghava M. in Karnataka The Hindu (India) Apr. 11, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
For rock climbers, skiers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, the word send has taken on a whole new meaning. You might cheer on a fellow snowboarder with Send it, bro! — and being sendy is a really great thing. Plus: a nostalgic trip to Willa...
The English language has been greatly enriched by borrowings from the languages of Asia. Barely scratching the surface, we have from Japan skosh, tycoon, tsunami, origami, yen, kimono, futon, and karaoke. From Chinese comes yen, kowtow, gung ho, and...