volute

Etymology

From French volute, from Italian voluta, from Latin volūta, from the feminine of volūtus, perfect passive participle of volvō. Doublet of vault.

noun

1. (architecture) The characteristic spiral curve on an Ionic capital, widely copied in other styles and in neoclassical architecture.
   This example is much richer, yet no less elegant, than the other; the volute, instead of a single spiral, is formed by three; the sculptured echinus beneath is surmounted by a guilloched moulding, and separated from the shaft by a neck […] 1856, Edward Shaw, The Modern Architect, Or, Every Carpenter His Own Master
2. (zoology) The spirals or whorls on a gastropod's shell.
3. (zoology) Any marine gastropod of the family Volutidae.
   Common shells include frog-shells, distorsios, volutes, tulips, murex, cones, olives, marginellas, cowries, augers and the Florida horse conch, the state's official shell, which can grow up to 24in (6 1 cm) long. 2002, Don Philpott, Florida: Gulf Coast, page 16
4. (engineering) The casing in a centrifugal pump, whose shape is somewhat similar to architectural volutes.
5. (art) A spiral or scroll form.
6. (music) A scroll-shaped carving at the tuning head of a stringed musical instrument, similar to architectural volutes.

adj

1. (engineering) Of a spring: having a spiral curve on its tail.