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#119295 01/09/04 06:19 PM
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wwh Offline OP
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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.




#119296 01/09/04 11:37 PM
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I think they call them "headers" now.



formerly known as etaoin...
#119297 01/09/04 11:48 PM
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wwh Offline OP
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Taking the poetry out of carpentry.


#119298 01/22/04 02:36 PM
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Pooh-Bah
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Not really. Just changing standards of beauty, I think!


#119299 01/23/04 03:56 AM
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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?


#119300 01/23/04 11:50 AM
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dxb Offline
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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)?


#119301 01/23/04 01:53 PM
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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.


#119302 01/23/04 02:05 PM
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wwh Offline OP
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Dear dxb: in the definition you gave, "pack animal" reminds
me of "sumpter mule".


#119303 01/23/04 02:09 PM
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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...
#119304 01/23/04 02:16 PM
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wwh Offline OP
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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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