Gambrel

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɡæmbɹəl/

Definitions

1. A roof structure that showcases two sloped surfaces on each side, where the lower pitch is steeper than the upper one
2. An architectural element defined by a unique roof design with asymmetrical sides, marked by varying angles of slope
3. A type of roof characterized by two distinct slopes on each side, where the lower section has a steeper angle compared to the upper section

Etymology: The gambrel roof, the barn-style roof with two slopes on each side, the lower one steeper than the upper, takes its name from a word for a horse's hock. Its likeliest source is the Old Northern French "gamberel," itself probably from "gambe," meaning "leg," so the roof's shape was compared to the bent hind leg of an animal. The link is not certain, and the source leaves the exact pathway uncertain. The comparison makes sense once you picture the outline. A horse's hock bends sharply at the joint, much as the roof breaks from a steep lower slope to a gentler upper one. Builders who needed more loft space in a barn could use this shape to gain headroom without raising the whole ridge, which is why the form is so closely tied to barns in North America.