Rafter

rafter
    n 1: one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof
         [syn: {rafter}, {balk}, {baulk}]
    2: someone who travels by raft [syn: {raftsman}, {raftman},
       {rafter}]
    v 1: provide (a ceiling) with rafters
    

Rafter \Raft"er\ (r[.a]ft"[~e]r), n.
   A raftsman.
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Rafter \Raft"er\, n. [AS. r[ae]fter; akin to E. raft, n. See
   {Raft}.] (Arch.)
   Originally, any rough and somewhat heavy piece of timber.
   Now, commonly, one of the timbers of a roof which are put on
   sloping, according to the inclination of the roof. See
   Illust. of {Queen-post}.
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         [Courtesy] oft is sooner found in lowly sheds,
         With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls. --Milton.
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Rafter \Raft"er\, v. t.
   1. To make into rafters, as timber.
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   2. To furnish with rafters, as a house.
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   3. (Agric.) To plow so as to turn the grass side of each
      furrow upon an unplowed ridge; to ridge. [Eng.]
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38 Moby Thesaurus words for "rafter":
      H beam, I beam, angle rafter, balk, batten, boom, box girder,
      breastsummer, corbel, crossbeam, crosstie, footing beam, girder,
      hammer beam, hip rafter, joist, lattice girder, lintel,
      plate girder, ridge strut, ridgepole, sill, sleeper, sprit,
      stringpiece, strut, stud, studding, summer, summertree, tie,
      tie beam, transom, transverse, trave, traverse, truss,
      truss beam