Summer Beam

Posted by R. Berg September 02, 2002In reply to Summer Beam posted by Nancy K. on September 02, 2002

Anyone know the origin of the term "summer beam" It is usually the main support beam in an old home.

Webster's second unabridged and the Oxford English Dict. give the word as "summer" by itself, as a noun. Origin: French "sommier," rafter, beast of burden; traced to Late Latin "sagmarius" (meaning unknown to me) and "sagma," packsaddle.