purlin

P3U1R1L1I1N1
US[ˈpɜːɹlɪn]

noun

A longitudinal structural member bridging two or more rafters of a roof.

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Meanings

nounpurlin (plural purlins)

plural purlins · alternative purline

  1. A longitudinal structural member bridging two or more rafters of a roof.

    The loft was broad and high, with splendid rough-cut oak purlins and three large Veluxes.

    2018, R. S. Holt, Modern Magic: Stories of the Overbury Shops

Origin

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.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan corretja
  • corretjalongitudinal structural member of a roof
Czech vaznice
  • vaznicelongitudinal structural member of a roof
Danish ås
  • åslongitudinal structural member of a roof
Finnish katto-orsi, orsihirsi
  • katto-orsilongitudinal structural member of a roof
  • orsihirsilongitudinal structural member of a roof
French panne
  • pannelongitudinal structural member of a roof
German Pfette
  • Pfettelongitudinal structural member of a roof
Greek τεγίδα
  • τεγίδα (tegída)longitudinal structural member of a roof
Hawaiian ʻaho
  • ʻaholongitudinal structural member of a roof
Irish taobhán
  • taobhánlongitudinal structural member of a roof
Italian terzera
  • terzeralongitudinal structural member of a roof
Korean 도리
  • 도리 (dori)longitudinal structural member of a roof
Malay kasau lintang, gulung-gulung
  • kasau lintanglongitudinal structural member of a roof
  • gulung-gulunglongitudinal structural member of a roof
Māori kaho
  • kaholongitudinal structural member of a roof
Polish płatew
  • płatewlongitudinal structural member of a roof
Spanish correa
  • correalongitudinal structural member of a roof
Swedish takås
  • takåslongitudinal structural member of a roof
Thai แป
  • แป (bpɛɛ)longitudinal structural member of a roof
Welsh tulath, trawslath
  • tulathlongitudinal structural member of a roof
  • trawslathlongitudinal structural member of a roof
Cite this entry
APA

purlin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purlin

MLA

“purlin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purlin. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “purlin,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/purlin.

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