crowstep

...Especially from the 16th to 17th centuries, gables with spiral curves called "Dutch gables" and gables with inverted circular arcs are often seen in secular architecture. There is also a type of gable called "crowstep" or "corbiestep" that has a stepped shape. The reason why gables developed in various ways in Northern Europe is probably because large buildings with steeply sloping roofs were built in large numbers to suit the cold climate with high rainfall, and they were built with gables to maximize lighting. ...

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "crowstep" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…特に16世紀から17世紀にかけては〈ダッチ･ゲーブルDutch gable〉と呼ばれる渦巻形の曲線をもった破風や，円弧の一部を反転させながら組み合わせるタイプの破風が多くの世俗建築に見られる。また破風を階段状に作る〈いらか段crowstep,corbiestep〉と呼ばれるタイプもある。北ヨーロッパで破風がさまざまに発展した理由は，降雨量が多く寒冷な風土に合わせて，急勾配の屋根をもつ大型の建物を集中して作り，しかも採光を最大限追究するために妻入りに建てたためであろう。…

※「crowstep」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報