from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Girder \Gird"er\, n. [From {Gird} to encircle.]
[1913 Webster]
1. One who, or that which, girds.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Arch. & Engin.) A main beam; a stright, horizontal beam
to span an opening or carry weight, such as ends of floor
beams, etc.; hence, a framed or built-up member
discharging the same office, technically called a compound
girder. See Illusts. of {Frame}, and {Doubleframed floor},
under {Double}.
[1913 Webster]
{Bowstring girder}, {Box girder}, etc. See under {Bowstring},
{Box}, etc.
{Girder bridge}. See under {Bridge}.
{Lattice girder}, a girder consisting of longitudinal bars
united by diagonal crossing bars.
{Half-lattice girder}, a girder consisting of horizontal
upper and lower bars connected by a series of diagonal
bars sloping alternately in opposite directions so as to
divide the space between the bars into a series of
triangles. --Knight.
{Sandwich girder}, a girder consisting of two parallel wooden
beams, between which is an iron plate, the whole clamped
together by iron bolts.
[1913 Webster]