soffit
[sof-it]
noun Architecture.
the underside of an architectural feature, as a beam, arch, ceiling, vault, or cornice.
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. 2019
Examples from the Web for soffit
Historical Examples of soffit
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
noun
Word Origin for soffit
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
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper