ˈridge-piece
[ridge n.1 3.]
(See quots. 1823 and 1850.)
| 1611 Cotgr. s.v. Enfaisture, Pieces d'enfaisture, sparres, rafters, ridge-peeces of timber. |
| 1823 P. Nicholson Pract. Build. 128 A ridge-piece is a beam at the apex of a roof. 1833 Loudon Encycl. Archit. §83 Ridge pieces, nine inches deep.., rounded on the top for lead. 1850 Parker Gloss. Arch. (ed. 5) 388 A piece of timber called the ridge-piece, upon which the upper ends of the rafters rest. 1863 Baring-Gould Iceland 270 Then the men pulled at the gable ends, heaved the ridgepiece aside, and broke it asunder. |