Purline

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A horizontal timber or steel beam that runs along a roof frame and supports the rafters above the main supports
2. A long beam laid horizontally across the rafters of a roof to carry their weight and hold the structure steady
3. The roof member, running parallel to the eaves, that bears the rafters and transfers their load to the trusses

Etymology: Purline is an alternative spelling of "purlin", the horizontal beam that runs along a roof, resting on the principal rafters and supporting the common rafters or roof boards above them. The word was recorded in English in the 15th century, when it appears in Middle English, and the Oxford Concise Dictionary suggests it may have come from French, though the exact route is uncertain. Beyond that, its early history is poorly documented, so the details of its path into English remain unclear.