lintel
A horizontal structural beam spanning an opening, such as between the uprights of a door or a window, and which supports the wall above.
Noun
- A horizontal structural beam spanning an opening, such as between the uprights of a door or a window, and which supports the wall above.
- Athelny had told him that he lived in a house built by Inigo Jones; he had raved, as he raved over everything, over the balustrade of old oak; and when he came down to open the door for Philip he made him at once admire...
- Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel, - 1927 August, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “[Ariel Poems.] Journey of the Magi.”, in Collected Poems 1909–1935, London: Faber & Faber […], published September...
Origin
From Middle English lyntel, from Old French lintel, from Vulgar Latin *līntellus, for *līmitellus, diminutive noun from līmes. Equivalent to limit + -el.