ridgepole

Or ridge pole

[rij-pohl]

noun

1. the horizontal timber or member at the top of a roof, to which the upper ends of the rafters are fastened.

ridgepole

/ ˈrɪdʒˌpəʊl /

noun

1. a timber laid along the ridge of a roof, to which the upper ends of the rafters are attached

2. the horizontal pole at the apex of a tent

Other Word Forms

• ridgepoled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ridgepole¹

First recorded in 1780–90; ridge + pole ¹

Example Sentences

Alex Stadel, a structural engineer from Keast & Hood, devised the custom base, which looks like two unfurled umbrellas, standing upright and connected by a ridgepole, adding some upright poles on tracks for additional flexibility.

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Ace Hardware offers one called the Fulton Thrift Sawhorse Bracket that fits over two legs and clamps onto a third two-by-four to make a ridgepole.

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It has a frame of forks and ridgepoles, and is covered with guanaco skins.

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One of the boat's masts was used for a ridgepole, and the oars for rafters.

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She had left the lantern lit and it swung from a rope tied to the ridgepole of the tent, and beyond the half partition of canvas.

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