Carline

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɑɹlɪn/

Definitions

1. A horizontal timber or metal piece used to support roof coverings between rafters
2. A structural element set horizontally under tiles or shingles to distribute weight across roof beams
3. A crosswise support in roofing constructions designed to hold the roof material in place

Etymology: The most striking part of this word's history is the thistle-to-Charlemagne tangle. Medieval Latin "carlina" probably derives from "cardina," a diminutive of Latin "carduus," meaning thistle, and the plant name was then reshaped by an association with Charlemagne, whose Latin name was Carolus Magnus. The same plant name had also given rise to the carline thistle, so a spiky weed and a Frankish emperor ended up sharing a word. The English word itself arrives by a different route. It was borrowed from Old French "carline," which passed it on from Medieval Latin, and the building sense is a separate strand. In English, "carline" has also been linked to Old Norse "karling," the feminine of "karl" (carl), though this connection sits alongside the Latin-French pathway rather than replacing it. The term "car" and "line" appear in some accounts as elements, but the sources here treat the modern roof-timber sense as tied to the French-Latin line, so the compound explanation is best set aside. Its practical job is simple: the timber lies horizontally across the rafters to carry roof covering.