Question

You might know that fisheye, birdsmouth, monkey blood, moose milk, and horse head are slang construction terms that have little or nothing to do with the animal noted, nor do the phrases “dog the door” or “running of the rats.” From a builder’s point of view, what do each of these mean?

Answer

Fisheye: Spots in a finish coat.

Birdsmouth: The cut in a rafter to form a seat at the wall top plate.

Monkey Blood: Liquid sprayed on concrete to slow evaporation and aid in curing.

Moose Milk: Liquid adhesive applied to old concrete to help bind a covering layer of new concrete.

Horse Head: A framework over a pit to support a pulley block.

Dog the Door: Secure a door latch in open position.

Running of the Rats: Rocks and dirt clods that roll down the face of a sloped excavation.