gambrel

Definition

A roof with two slopes on each side, the lower slope being steeper than the upper one, creating a distinctive barn-like silhouette. It's also the hock joint of a horse's hind leg.

Example Usage

The old farmhouse featured a gambrel roof that could be seen for miles across the prairie.

Origin

From Old French 'gamberel,' related to 'jambe' (leg), referring to the shape resembling a bent leg.

Fun Fact

Gambrel roofs became iconic in American colonial and barn architecture because they maximize interior space while shedding water efficiently.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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See “gambrel” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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