Doorjamb

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The vertical framing component of a doorway supporting the door ; the upright structure against which a door is secured or closed ; the part of a door frame that forms the side post and bears the hinges
2. A structural element forming the side edges of an entrance where a door is fixed ; the side post of a door frame that holds the door in place and allows it to swing ; the upright beam that forms the boundary of a doorway and supports the door attachment
3. The side vertical piece of a door frame providing support and pivot points for the door ; the stanchion that defines the edge of a doorway and anchors the door hardware ; the side post in a door frame that helps maintain the door’s alignment and function

Etymology: "Jamb" is one of those English words that has nearly vanished from everyday speech while staying put in the architecture of every doorway. It comes from Old French "jambe," meaning "leg," the same word that gives English "gambit" and, through a longer route, "gamble" (in the sense of a bet placed on a leg of a contest). A jamb is the upright piece that stands on either side of an opening, so it was named after the part of the body that holds a structure up. Pairing "jamb" with "door" simply specifies which opening the upright belongs to, and the compound has stayed transparent ever since: a doorjamb is the side member of a door frame, the surface where the latch strikes and the hinges are fixed. Other compounds built the same way include "window jamb" and "fireplace jamb," which show the term applied to any opening framed by vertical supports.

Synonyms: door frame, doorpost, door surround, door casing, door lining