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header bond

Low
UK/ˈhɛdə ˌbɒnd/US/ˈhɛdər ˌbɑːnd/

Technical/Formal

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A structural component in masonry where a brick or stone is laid perpendicular to the wall face, creating a bond between two wythes (layers) of a wall.

A bond pattern in brickwork where the "header" (short end) of a brick faces outward; can also refer to a financial bond that ranks ahead of others in payment priority, though this usage is far less common.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Primarily a term in architecture, masonry, and civil engineering. The financial usage (header bond as a type of bond in finance) is rare and specialized, often needing explicit context. The core meaning is almost exclusively physical/structural.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical difference. The concept and term are identical in professional usage on both sides of the Atlantic. Pronunciation of "header" may vary slightly.

Connotations

Purely technical; carries no additional cultural or social connotations.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to construction and engineering contexts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
brick header bondmasonry header bondEnglish header bondFlemish header bondwall with header bond
medium
laid in header bondpattern of header bonduse a header bondstructural header bond
weak
strong header bondtraditional header bondexternal header bond

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[masonry wall] + [is constructed/laid] + in + header bondThe [bricklayer] + [used/applied] + a header bond + for + [structural integrity]

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

perpendicular bond

Neutral

bond courseheading course

Weak

through-bondconnector course

Vocabulary

Antonyms

stretcher bond

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “None”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Virtually never used. Possible only in highly specific construction finance or project reports.

Academic

Used in architecture, civil engineering, and construction history texts/papers.

Everyday

Not used in everyday conversation.

Technical

The primary domain. Used in construction specifications, architectural drawings, masonry manuals, and structural engineering discussions.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The wall needs to be properly header-bonded for stability.
  • They will header-bond every fifth course.

American English

  • The mason header-bonded the corners of the structure.
  • The specs require us to header-bond the two wythes.

adverb

British English

  • The bricks were laid header-bond for the quoins.

American English

  • The mason worked header-bond to tie the wall together.

adjective

British English

  • The header-bond pattern is clearly visible in the Georgian facade.
  • We need header-bond bricks for this section.

American English

  • The architect specified a header-bond detail in the drawings.
  • Inspect the header-bond course for alignment.

Examples

By CEFR Level

B1
  • The old brick wall has a special pattern called a header bond.
  • In a header bond, you see the short ends of the bricks.
B2
  • To ensure the two layers of brickwork act as one unit, the bricklayer incorporated a header bond every sixth course.
  • Flemish bond alternates header and stretcher bricks in the same course.
C1
  • The structural engineer insisted on a header bond at regular intervals to comply with the building code's requirement for cavity wall ties.
  • Analysis of the 18th-century masonry revealed a variation of English bond, where header courses were slightly recessed, creating a subtle shadow line.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a brick WALL. Most bricks show their long side. A HEADER is the brick that shows its HEAD (short end). It BONDs (ties together) the inner and outer layers.

Conceptual Metaphor

STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY IS CONNECTION; A HEADER BOND IS A PERPENDICULAR TIE.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Avoid literal translation to "головная облигация" which is nonsense. In masonry, the correct term is "тычковая перевязка" or "тычковый ряд".
  • Do not confuse with "header" in computing (заголовок) or football (удар головой).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'header bond' to refer to the top of a document or webpage.
  • Confusing it with 'head bond' or 'heading bond'.
  • Assuming it is a common financial term.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
In traditional bricklaying, a is essential for tying together the inner and outer leaves of a cavity wall.
Multiple Choice

What is the primary function of a header bond in masonry?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a specialized technical term used primarily in architecture, masonry, and construction.

Extremely rarely. In some highly niche financial contexts, it might refer to a senior or priority bond, but this usage is not standard. Always assume the masonry meaning unless context dictates otherwise.

In a header bond, the short ends (headers) of the bricks face outward. In a stretcher bond, the long sides (stretchers) face outward. Stretcher bond is common for single-layer walls, while header bond is used to connect layers.

Not for everyday conversation. It is important only if you work in or study construction, civil engineering, architecture, or building conservation.