purline
/ˈpɜrlɪn/
noun
- A horizontal beam in a roof that supports the rafters and helps transfer the weight of the roof to the main supports.
- The carpenter installed a new purline to strengthen the roof structure.
- The architect specified steel purlins for the warehouse roof to handle the heavy snow load.
- During the renovation, we had to replace a rotted purline that was sagging under the weight of the tiles.