poutre

beam, rafter

noun POOTR Rare

Origin: Old French, from a Germanic root related to English 'beam'

Also means

balance beam (gymnastics)

Usage Note

Poutre refers to a structural load-bearing beam in architecture, often seen in exposed-beam interiors (poutres apparentes), which are fashionable in renovated French country homes. In gymnastics, la poutre is the balance beam event. A classic French proverb drawn from the Gospels is voir la paille dans l'oeil du voisin et ne pas voir la poutre dans le sien — seeing the speck in your neighbour's eye but not the plank in your own.

Examples

"Les poutres apparentes donnent du caractere a la piece."

Natural Translation

The exposed beams give the room character.

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