hammer-beam Meaning, Definition & Usage

Ham"mer-beam` noun
Definitions
  1. (Cothic Arch.) A member of one description of roof truss, called hammer-beam truss, which is so framed as not to have a tiebeam at the top of the wall. Each principal has two hammer-beams, which occupy the situation, and to some extent serve the purpose, of a tiebeam.

Webster 1913