“Summer Beams”

What is the proper definition of a Summer Beam?

a.  A ray of light coming from the sky on a sunny day

b.  A timber beam harvested in the summer months

c. A large horizontal timber used as a load bearing beam

If you guessed “b”, you are absolutely incorrect!  Here’s your consolation prize and a little education before you go….

“There are many explanations and speculations about the etymology of the term “summer beam,” which has been used since the fourteenth century and refers to the massive beams that you can see in the center of the ceiling of each room.

The Oxford English Dictionary traces the origin to the Anglo-French word sumer or somer, meaning packhorse, and referring to the function of the beam bearing a heavy load.

Another possible derivation is from the Latin word summa, meaning highest or greatest (as in summa cum laude), and referring to the great size and primary importance of the beam.” **

A Summer Beam has also been defined as ‘a major and usually massive horizontal timber which spans the girts or plate’. It is the epitome of ‘load-bearing’ and is derived from the word ‘sommier’, which is French for “beast of burden”.  This makes sense, since it is carrying the burden of the structure above it.

In short, the correct answer is “c”.

** http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/boardman-house/faqs

 

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