midspan

M3I1D2S1P3A1N1

noun

In structural engineering, the point on a flexural member (typically a beam, girder, or spandrel panel) that is equidistant from the two end supports.

OriginEnglish span ← Middle English spanne ← Old English spann →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounmidspan (plural midspans)

plural midspans

  1. engineeringIn structural engineering, the point on a flexural member (typically a beam, girder, or spandrel panel) that is equidistant from the two end supports.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*me
  2. Proto-Indo-European*dʰeh₁-?
  3. Proto-Indo-European*médʰi
  4. Proto-Indo-European*médʰyos
  5. Proto-Germanic*midjaz
  6. Proto-West Germanic*midi
  7. Old Englishmidd
  8. Middle Englishmid
  9. Englishmid
  10. Englishmid-
  11. Proto-Indo-European*(s)pend-
  12. Proto-Germanic*spannō
  13. Old Englishspann
  14. Middle Englishspanne
  15. Englishspan
  16. Englishmidspan

From mid- + span.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

midspan. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/midspan

MLA

“midspan.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/midspan. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “midspan,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/midspan.

Source: midspan on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.