joist Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun beam used to support floors or roofs

WordNet


Joist noun
Etymology
OE. giste, OF. giste, F. gîte, fr. gesir to lie, F. gésir. See Gist.
Definitions
  1. (Arch.) A piece of timber laid horizontally, or nearly so, to which the planks of the floor, or the laths or furring strips of a ceiling, are nailed; -- called, according to its position or use, binding joist, bridging joist, ceiling joist, trimming joist, etc. See Illust. of Double-framed floor, under Double, a.
Joist transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Joisted; present participle & verbal noun Joisting
Definitions
  1. To fit or furnish with joists. Johnson.

Webster 1913