Meaning of wainscoting?

Answer 1

Wainscot or wainscoting is a panelling style applied to the lower 900mm to 1500mm of an interior wall, below the dado rail or chair rail and above the skirting board or baseboard. It is traditionally constructed from tongue-and-groove boards, though beadboard or decorative panels (such as a wooden door might have) are also common. Wainscoting may also refer to other materials used in a similar fashion.

Wainscoting's original purpose was to cover the lower part of walls which, in houses constructed with poor or nonexistent damp-proof courses, are often affected by rising dampness. Its purpose is now generally decorative.

Answer 2

Wainscot or wainscoting is a panelling style applied to the lower 900mm to 1500mm of an interior wall, below the dado rail or chair rail and above the skirting board or baseboard. It is traditionally constructed from tongue-and-groove boards, though beadboard or decorative panels (such as a wooden door might have) are also common. Wainscoting may also refer to other materials used in a similar fashion.

Wainscoting's original purpose was to cover the lower part of walls which, in houses constructed with poor or nonexistent damp-proof courses, are often affected by rising dampness. Its purpose is now generally decorative.

Answer 3

Glad to say, the first two answers are perfectly correct - I checked them against Wikipedia and they are word perfect.
It can also mean to apply graining in imitation of oak.

I noticed that the "wain" bit is the same as an old word for wagon, and you can imagine a wainscot as looking like some kinds of wagon sides. The dictionary is very tentative but suggests the word could have come from Dutch or Old English words meaning wagon and partition.

What lovely full answers - never wains but it pours.

Answer 4

wainscoting is a tip of wall panelling

Answer 5

Skirting Board Wiki