purlin

American  

[pur-lin] / ˈpɜr lɪn /

Or purline

noun

1. a longitudinal member in a roof frame, usually for supporting common rafters or the like between the plate and the ridge.

---

purlin British  

/ ˈpɜːlɪn /

noun

1. a horizontal beam that provides intermediate support for the common rafters of a roof construction

---

Etymology

Origin of purlin

1400–50; late Middle English purlyn, purloyne, akin to Anglo-Latin perliō; of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

And whenever Hersey needs an idea and can't find one�it happens all the time�he uses a big word instead: cangue, coffle, fulvous, hame, jingal, liripipe, m�tayer, panyar, purlin, psora, shroff, sycee.*

From Time Magazine Archive

I’d need to jump from purlin to purlin, about fifteen of them, spaced four feet apart, to get the chalk, then the same number back.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

I shimmied the length of a purlin, which took me to the framing beam at the barn’s edge.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

One-half of Rory's purlin plate slipped from its splicing, the pin having been neglected in the furious haste, and swinging free, fell crashing through the timbers upon the scurrying, scrambling men below.

From The Doctor : a Tale of the Rockies by Connor, Ralph

In the latter case, of course, a purlin and supporting posts, as shown in diagram, must be supplied.

From Gardening Indoors and Under Glass A Practical Guide to the Planting, Care and Propagation of House Plants, and to the Construction and Management of Hotbed, Coldframe and Small Greenhouse by Rockwell, F. F. (Frederick Frye)