soffit
[sof-it]
- the underside of an architectural feature, as a beam, arch, ceiling, vault, or cornice.
Show More
Origin of soffit
1605–15; < French soffite < Italian soffitto < Vulgar Latin *suffīctus, for Latin suffīxus; see suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for soffit
Historical Examples
The soffit is flat, with a round moulding at the inner and the outer edge.
The Story of ChartresCecil Headlam
A projection upon the soffit of the Doric corona, which originally marked the position of the rafter-ends beneath the sheathing.
History of Ancient ArtFranz von Reber
The lower surface or soffit of the arch is the intrados, E, and the upper surface the extrados, F.
Flat arch, where the soffit is horizontal and sometimes slightly cambered (dotted line).
They have a heavy abacus, which, as well as the soffit of the round arch, is enriched with flowered work.
Sketches from the Subject and Neighbour Lands of VeniceEdward A. Freeman
soffit
- the underside of a part of a building or a structural component, such as an arch, beam, stair, etc
- Also called: crown, vertex the upper inner surface of a drain or sewerCompare invert (def. 6)
Show More
Word Origin
C17: via French from Italian soffitto, from Latin suffixus something fixed underneath, from suffīgere, from sub- under + fīgere to fasten
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for soffit
n.
architectural term referring to under-faces, 1610s, from Italian soffita, fem. of soffitto "ceiling," noun use of adjective meaning "fixed beneath," from Vulgar Latin *suffictus "fastened below," from Latin suffixus (see suffix (n.)).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper