in architecture, an ascent inclosed between walls, or a ballustrade, consisting of stairs, or steps, with landing-places and rails, serving to make a communication between the several stories of a house. See **ARCHITECTURE**, p. 369.

**STALACTITÆ**, in natural history, crystalline spars formed into oblong, conical, round, or irregular bodies, composed of various crusts, and usually found hanging in form of icicles from the roofs of grottos, &c.