joist

American  

[joist] / dʒɔɪst /

noun

1. any of a number of small, parallel beams of timber, steel, reinforced concrete, etc., for supporting floors, ceilings, or the like.

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verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with or fix on joists.

joist British  

/ dʒɔɪst /

noun

1. a beam made of timber, steel, or reinforced concrete, used in the construction of floors, roofs, etc See also rolled-steel joist

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verb

1. (tr) to construct (a floor, roof, etc) with joists

Other Word Forms

• joistless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of joist

1325–75; Middle English giste < Old French < Latin *jacitum support, noun use of neuter of Latin jacitus (past participle of jacēre to lie), equivalent to jaci- variant stem + -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

A joist is a support that strengthens floors and ceilings in a house. Joists run horizontally, connecting with the studs in walls to give buildings a solid frame. You can't see the joists in a finished house or building, because they're inside the foundation, walls, or ceiling. Joists are usually made of wood, although they can also be concrete or steel, materials strong enough to provide support. Ceiling joists often connect to beams, which tend to be larger and run perpendicular to joists. Joist comes from the Old French word giste, "beam supporting a bridge," from the Latin iacere, "to rest."

Example Sentences

Six months later, Mr. Minnick found a job at Trus Joist, a $30 million forest-products company in Boise.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2010

Joist Hite had four famous grandsons born at this Bowman home.

From Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of Virginia by Northington, Etta Belle Walker

The first house in western Virginia was erected by one of them, Joist Hite, and he established a colony of his people near the future site of Winchester.

From Our Southern Highlanders by Kephart, Horace

They were soon followed by others, among them Joist Hite at the head of sixteen families from York, Pennsylvania, who settled at the site of Winchester.

From The Colonization of North America 1492-1783 by Bolton, Herbert Eugene

When Joist Hite arrived in Virginia he and his family were required to settle on the land bought from the VanMeters.

From Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of Virginia by Northington, Etta Belle Walker

Related Words

• stud