Ridgepole

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

ridgepole
    n 1: a beam laid along the edge where two sloping sides of a
         roof meet at the top; provides an attachment for the upper
         ends of rafters [syn: {ridge}, {ridgepole}, {rooftree}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Ridgepole \Ridge"pole`\, n. (Arch.)
   The timber forming the ridge of a roof, into which the
   rafters are secured.
   [1913 Webster]

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