any thing relating to Attica, or to the city of Athens; thus Attic salt, in philology, is a delicate poignant sort of wit and humour peculiar to the Athenian writers; Attic witness, a witness incapable of corruption, &c.

Attic, in architecture, a sort of building wherein the roof or covering is not to be seen; thus named, because the buildings at Athens were generally of this form.

Attic order, a small order raised upon a large one, by way of crowning, or to finish the building; or it is, according to some, a kind of rich pedestal, sometimes used for the conveniency of having a wardrobe, or the like; and instead of columns, has only pilasters of a particular form, and sometimes no pilasters at all.

The name Attic is also given to a whole story into which this order enters; this little order being always found over another greater one.

Attic base, a peculiar kind of base used by the ancient architects in the Ionic order; and by Palladio, and some others, in the Doric.