: any of the small timbers or metal beams ranged parallel from wall to wall in a structure to support a floor or ceiling
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J joist
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Anchored by a brown leather couch, the space features an eclectic mix of furnishings and accessories, including a glass coffee table, green accent chair, red record player, and a bench repurposed from the home’s floor joists; matching shelves adorn the wall.—Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025 Also confirm where joists or subfloors exist before attempting to nail down your floorboards—some older homes have very little of either.—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025 Volunteer linemen helped Parker place telephone poles and rig the floor joists, but from there, Parker pieced most of it together himself.—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025 Even if the joist itself still appears solid, there can be small cracks near the screws that will keep them from holding well.—Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for joist
Word History
Etymology
Middle English giste, joiste, from Anglo-French giste, from Vulgar Latin *jacitum, from Latin jacēre to lie — more at adjacent
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