Course (architecture)

A course is a continuous horizontal layer of similarly-sized building material one unit high, usually in a wall. The term is almost always used in conjunction with unit masonry

Masonry

Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...

 such as brick

Brick

A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...

, cut stone, or concrete masonry units ("concrete block").

Styles

Stretcher - The typical course style, masonry units are laid with their face parallel to the wall and the long dimension outwards.
Header - a course with the face of the unit parallel to the wall, and the small dimension outwards, often used to interlock two adjacent wythes.

Rowlock - A course with the long dimension parallel to the wall and the small face looking outward. Most commonly used at the topmost course of a wall, and above or below openings within it.

Soldier - Used mainly for decorative purposes as its upright nature does not lend itself to the compressive strength of a masonry unit. The longest dimension is vertical, with the large face perpendicular to the wall.

Sailor (rare) - Decorative, with the longest dimension of the brick vertical and the widest dimension parallel to the face of the wall.

Shiner (rare) - Decorative, with the longest dimension of the brick horizontal and the widest dimension parallel to the face of the wall.

String course

A string course or band course is a thin projecting course of brickwork or stone that runs horizontally around a building, typically to emphasize the junction between floors, or just below the eaves.