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Joined: Jan 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
No, it's not a topless bathing beach vacation.
breastsummer (BRES-sum-uhr, BREST-, BRES-e-muhr) noun
A horizontal beam supporting an exterior wall over an opening, as a shop window. Also called breast beam.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
I think they call them "headers" now.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
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Taking the poetry out of carpentry.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
Not really. Just changing standards of beauty, I think!
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Images! Why does it have to be over an opening? And why would a shop window have to be over an opening? Why couldn't you just have that shop window out over the sidewalk? This is so confusing when you all start writing about structures. You cannot begin to imagine the things I see in my head. Also, why'summer'? Is there a backsummer, too? Or a crownsummer? Or a solesummer?
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
This from AHD: Summer:
1. A heavy horizontal timber that serves as a supporting beam, especially for the floor above. 2. A lintel. 3. A large, heavy stone usually set on the top of a column or pilaster to support an arch or lintel. Middle English, beam, pack animal, from Anglo-Norman sumer, from Vulgar Latin *saum rius, from Late Latin sagm rius, pertaining to a packsaddle, packhorse, from sagma, packsaddle. See sumpter.
The term 'breastsummer' or 'bressumer' appears to have been used mainly in connection with fortification works; castles and like structures. I guess that the term 'breastsummer' was used for a supporting beam at around breast height. Or could it have been a beam at ground level supporting 'breastwork' (a breast-high defensive wall)?
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
over an opening
Umm, the shop window is the opening, Dub Dub'. The breast summer is over the opening to provide support for the stuff that's over *that.
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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Posts: 13,858 |
Dear dxb: in the definition you gave, "pack animal" reminds me of "sumpter mule".
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
here's another def, I'm looking for a picture... Header- (a) A beam placed perpendicular to joists and to which joists are nailed inframing for a chimney, stairway, or other opening. (b) A wood lintel. (c) The horizontal structural member over an opening (for example over a door or window). here we go: http://www.claimrep.com/Pictures/Header2256.jpg
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
I tried searching for etymology of "abreast", meaning side by side, facing in same direction. All I found was AHD definition of "troika" (in news about twenty years ago) Russian for a carriage drawn by three horses. But the pictures I have seen of troikas showed middle horse slightly ahead of the other two.
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