Main Entry:

sof·fit

Pronunciation:

\ˈsä-fət\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French soffite, from Italian soffitto, from Vulgar Latin *suffictus, past participle of Latin suffigere to fasten underneath — more at suffix

Date:

1592

: the underside of a part or member of a building (as of an overhang or staircase) ; especially : the intrados of an arch