Hollow-Point Cartridges, Warheads, and Gothic Architecture

Yes, they do have something very much in common!: ogives.


Our friend Mr. Webster defines ogive below:

ogive

noun \ˈō-ˌjīv\

1

a :  a diagonal arch or rib across a Gothic vault

b :  a pointed arch

2

:  a graph of a cumulative distribution function or a cumulative frequency distribution 

So there you have it.

In case you're still scratching your head: in Spanish, one of the word choices to describe cartridges' noses (pointed, flat, or hollowed out) is ojiva, which quite literally refers to that shape of two arches which intersect and form a point (or rounded point, or hollowed out point, etc.).  Ojiva is also another term for warhead, again because of the shape.  Who knew that old Villard de Honnecourt in 12something was incorporating a word of such widespread and common use into the language.  Ha.