Meaning
A longitudinal structural member bridging two or more rafters of a roof.
Etymology
Origin: Middle English
Uncertain. Information on the etymology is scant at best. According to Websters it comes from 15th-century English. According to the Oxford Concise Dictionary, it is "Middle English, perhaps of French origin". Other sources reference Middle English or 15th-century English.
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2021, 2022, 2025, 2026.