rafter

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: raft=er

CIDE DICTIONARY

rafter, n. 

 A raftsman.  [1913 Webster]

rafter, n. [AS. ræfter; akin to E. raft, n. See Raft.].

 Originally, any rough and somewhat heavy piece of timber. Now, commonly, one of the timbers of a roof which are put on sloping, according to the inclination of the roof. See Illust. of Queen-post.  [1913 Webster]
"[Courtesy] oft is sooner found in lowly sheds,
With smoky rafters, than in tapestry halls."  [1913 Webster]

rafter, v. t. 

•  To make into rafters, as timber.  [1913 Webster]
•  To furnish with rafters, as a house.  [1913 Webster]
•  To plow so as to turn the grass side of each furrow upon an unplowed ridge; to ridge.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

rafter, n. each of the sloping beams forming the framework of a roof.

Derivative

raftered adj.

rafter, n.
1 a person who rafts timber.
2 a person who travels by raft.

THESAURUS

rafter

H beam, I beam, angle rafter, balk, batten, boom, box girder, breastsummer, corbel, crossbeam, crosstie, footing beam, girder, hammer beam, hip rafter, joist, lattice girder, lintel, plate girder, ridge strut, ridgepole, sill, sleeper, sprit, stringpiece, strut, stud, studding, summer, summertree, tie, tie beam, transom, transverse, trave, traverse, truss, truss beam

ROGET THESAURUS

rafter

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.