Purlin
/[ˈpɜːɹlɪn]/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 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."
Example
More examples"The loft was broad and high, with splendid rough-cut oak purlins and three large Veluxes."
Etymology
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.
Related phrases
More for "purlin"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.