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Bressummer
A bressummer, breastsummer, summer beam (somier, sommier, sommer, somer, cross-somer, summer, summier, summer-tree, or dorman, dormant tree) are load bearing beams in a timber framed building. The word summer derived from sumpter or French sommier, “a pack horse”, meaning “bearing great burden or weight”. “To support a superincumbent wall”, “any beast of burden”, and in this way is similar to a wall plate.
The use and definition of these terms vary but generally a bressummer is a jetty sill and a summer is an interior beam supporting ceiling joists, see below:
(UK) In the outward part of the building, and the middle floors (not in the garrets or ground floors) into which the girders are framed. In the inner parts of a building, such beams are called “summers”. It is part of the timber frame construction in the over-hanging upper story in jettying.
(UK) “Horizontal beam over a fireplace opening (alternatively lintel, mantel beam), or set forward from the lower part of a building to support a jettied wall, a jetty bressummer”.
(UK) “…usually the sill of the upper wall above a jetty; otherwise any beam spanning an opening and supporting a wall above.” also called a “jetty sill”.
(UK) Breastsummer is a beam in a wall which carries the load over a large opening derived from breast being in the front, mid-level and summer: “A horizontal, bearing beam in a building; spec. the main beam supporting the girders or joists of a floor…”.
“a main piece of timber that supports a building, an architrave between two pillars”
“Breast-Summer, an architectural term for a beam employed like a lintel to support the front of a building, is a corruption of bressumer…”
(U.S.) “Summer beam: A large timber spanning a room and supporting smaller floor joists on both sides.”
(U.S.) “Summer beam. Heavy main horizontal beam, anchored in gable foundation walls, that supports forebay beams and barn frame above.”
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Bressummer (noun)
A large, timber-frame overhang constructions.
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Beam (noun)
Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
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Beam (noun)
One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building; one of the transverse members of a ship’s frame on which the decks are laid — supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones.
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Beam (noun)
The maximum width of a vessel.
“This ship has more beam than that one.”
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Beam (noun)
The crossbar of a mechanical balance, from the ends of which the scales are suspended.
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Beam (noun)
The principal stem of the antler of a deer.
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Beam (noun)
The pole of a carriage or chariot.
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Beam (noun)
A weaving and the cylinder on which the cloth is rolled, as it is woven.
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Beam (noun)
The straight part or shank of an anchor.
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Beam (noun)
The central bar of a plow, to which the handles and colter are secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that draw it.
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Beam (noun)
In steam engines, a heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft.
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Beam (noun)
A ray or collection of approximately parallel rays emitted from the sun or other luminous body.
“a beam of light”
“a beam of energy”
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Beam (noun)
A ray; a gleam.
“a beam of hope, or of comfort”
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Beam (noun)
One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk.
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Beam (noun)
A horizontal bar which connects the stems of two or more notes to group them and to indicate metric value.
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Beam (noun)
An elevated rectangular dirt pile used to cheaply build an elevated portion of a railway.
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Beam (verb)
To emit beams of light; shine; radiate.
“to beam forth light”
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Beam (verb)
To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.
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Beam (verb)
To furnish or supply with beams
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Beam (verb)
To give the appearance of beams to.
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Beam (verb)
To transmit matter or information via a high-tech wireless mechanism.
“Beam me up, Scotty; there’s no intelligent life down here.”
“The injured crewmembers were immediately beamed to sickbay.”
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Beam (verb)
To stretch something (for example an animal hide) on a beam.
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Beam (verb)
To put (something) on a beam
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Beam (verb)
To connect (musical notes) with a beam, or thick line, in music notation.
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Beam (noun)
a long, sturdy piece of squared timber or metal used to support the roof or floor of a building
“there are very fine oak beams in the oldest part of the house”
“the cottage boasts a wealth of exposed beams”
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Beam (noun)
a narrow, raised horizontal piece of squared timber on which a gymnast balances while performing exercises
“a compulsory set of exercises on floor, vault, bars, and beam”
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Beam (noun)
a horizontal piece of squared timber or metal supporting the deck and joining the sides of a ship
“the watertight skin and deck were put on over this framework of ribs and beams”
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Beam (noun)
the direction of an object visible from the port or starboard side of a ship when it is perpendicular to the centre line of the vessel
“there was land in sight on the port beam”
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Beam (noun)
a ship’s breadth at its widest point
“a cutter with a beam of 16 feet”
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Beam (noun)
the width of a person’s hips
“notice how broad in the beam she’s getting?”
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Beam (noun)
the main stem of a stag’s antler
“the wide beams sprouted ten main tines”
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Beam (noun)
the crossbar of a balance.
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Beam (noun)
an oscillating shaft which transmits the vertical piston movement of a beam engine to the crank or pump.
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Beam (noun)
the shank of an anchor.
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Beam (noun)
the main timber of a horse-drawn plough.
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Beam (noun)
a ray or shaft of light
“a beam of light flashed in front of her”
“the torch beam dimmed perceptibly”
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Beam (noun)
a directional flow of particles or radiation
“beams of electrons”
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Beam (noun)
a series of radio or radar signals emitted as a navigational guide for ships or aircraft
“the detector simply pinpoints the radar beams that other ships transmit”
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Beam (noun)
a radiant or good-natured look or smile
“a beam of satisfaction”
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Beam (verb)
transmit (a radio signal or broadcast) in a specified direction
“the satellite beamed back radio signals to scientists on Earth”
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Beam (verb)
(in science fiction) transport someone instantaneously to or from a spaceship
“mission controller, beam me up!”
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Beam (verb)
(of a light or light source) shine brightly
“the sun’s rays beamed down”
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Beam (verb)
smile radiantly
“she beamed with pleasure”
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Beam (verb)
express (an emotion) with a radiant smile
“the instructress beamed her approval”