girder

[ gur-der ]

/ ˈgɜr dər /

a large beam, as of steel, reinforced concrete, or timber, for supporting masonry, joists, purlins, etc.

a principal beam of wood, steel, etc., supporting the ends of joists.

Origin of girder

First recorded in 1605–15; gird¹ + -er¹

gird·er·less, adjective

It had not been that way in Hawaii, for there already the grip of the girder has made rigid the life of nature and the people.

The Pacific Triangle |Sydney Greenbie
The girder forms, Fig. 227, rested on the column forms and on intermediate posts half-way between columns.

Concrete Construction |Halbert P. Gillette
It is well also to give the girder molds a camber or to crown them to allow for settling of the falsework.

Concrete Construction |Halbert P. Gillette
The gap between them is bridged by a third girder of bow shape, which is stiff enough in itself to need no central support.

The Romance of Modern Mechanism |Archibald Williams

Would he hang a floor slab on a few rods which project from the bottom of a girder?

Some Mooted Questions in Reinforced Concrete Design |Edward Godfrey

girder

/ (ˈɡɜːdə) /

a large beam, esp one made of steel, used in the construction of bridges, buildings, etc

botany the structure composed of tissue providing mechanical support for a stem or leaf