This blog is for everyone who uses words.

The ordinary-sized words are for everyone, but the big ones are especially for children.



Friday 30 March 2018

Word To Use Today With A Sense Of Quiet Gratitude: purlin.

Purlin is a lovely word, full of history, romance and mystery.

More than that, without purlins you would die, probably within the next five seconds or so...

...are you still here? 

Good. Then your purlins are still doing their work, then.

Word To Use Today With A Sense Of Quiet Gratitude: purlin. Purlins are the long pieces of wood (well, usually wood) that run across rafters and hold your roof up. (In this photograph the rafters are the bits that are in the shape of an upside down V.)

File:Common purlin framing.JPG
Building in New England, photo by Jim Derby

The word purlin appeared in the mid 1400s. It probably came from France.


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