Look up: Hammer-beam

1. 
   hammer beam
   A short horizontal beam, usually made of wood, extending from the top of a masonry wall outward towards the center of the enclosed space, but not completely traversing it. The projecting end is usually connected to the roof with a diagonal brace. The protruding ends of hammer beams were often elaborately carved.
   Found on http://www.pitt.edu/~medart/menuglossary
   
   
2. 
   Hammer beam
   a hammerbeam is a horizontal timber projecting at wall head level towards the centre of the roofspace, like a tie beam without a central section. Supported on corbels, they carry a vertical timber, the hammer post, which supports a purlin, and is usually braced to a collar beam. ...
   Found on http://www.trp.dundee.ac.uk/research/glo
   
   
3. 
   Hammer-beam
   Ham'mer-beam` (-bēm`) noun (Gothic 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.
   Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/H/10
   
   
4. 
   Hammer-beam
   • (n.) 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.
   Found on http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning
   
   
5. 
   hammerbeam
   wooden roof brackets that project from the wall horizintally, in the shape of a hammer
   Found on http://www.lancashirechurches.co.uk/glos
   
   
6. 
   Hammerbeam
   Projection from wall at foot of principal rafter
   Found on http://www.digitalstroud.co.uk/glossary.
   
   
7. 
   Hammerbeam
   An abbreviated tie-beam
   Found on http://www.norwichchurches.co.uk/Glossar