rafter

1 of 2

noun (1)

raf·​ter ˈraf-tər 

: any of the parallel beams that support a roof

raftered

ˈraf-tərd 

adjective

rafter

2 of 2

noun (2)

raft·​er ˈraf-tər 

1

: one who maneuvers logs into position and binds them into rafts

2

: one who travels by raft

Examples of rafter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And the water was a comfortable temperature: Unlike the bracing snowmelt that many rafters brave across the western United States, the Upper Klamath water that flowed from Boyle Reservoir and Upper Klamath Lake farther upstream was known for its warmth. —Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 24 Nov. 2024

Jumbo Joe Oh, there won’t be a lot of dry eyes in the building Saturday when No. 19 goes up into the rafters in San Jose. —Pierre Lebrun, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024

To cap off a month of anticipation and as part of the Raptors 30th anniversary, the organization hoisted up Carter’s number 15 to the rafters at halftime of the Raptors-Kings game on Saturday night. —Esfandiar Baraheni, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

One day earlier this month, workers in white hard hats bustled around the I-beams supporting the house and ducked under basement rafters that had been in place for almost 300 years. —Michael E. Ruane The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 20 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English ræfter; akin to Old Norse raptr rafter

Noun (2)

raft entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rafter

noun

raf·​ter

ˈraf-tər

: one of the usually sloping timbers that support a roof

raftered

-tərd

adjective