jamb

noun \ ˈjam \

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Definition of jamb

1 : an upright piece or surface forming the side of an opening (as for a door, window, or fireplace)

2 : a projecting columnar part or mass

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Recent Examples of jamb from the Web

At the time, the team reported that a volcanic cloud had launched a stone door jamb toward the man, decapitating him.

— New York Times, "He Died at Pompeii, but His Head Wasn’t Crushed by a Block," 29 June 2018
Look at the condition of the door jamb … should it be replaced?

— kenya burrell-vanwormer, Houston Chronicle, "Keep safety in mind when buying a home," 29 Apr. 2018
Look at the condition of the door jamb … should it be replaced?

— kenya burrell-vanwormer, Houston Chronicle, "Keep safety in mind when buying a home," 29 Apr. 2018
Look at the condition of the door jamb … should it be replaced?

— kenya burrell-vanwormer, Houston Chronicle, "Keep safety in mind when buying a home," 29 Apr. 2018
Look at the condition of the door jamb … should it be replaced?

— kenya burrell-vanwormer, Houston Chronicle, "Keep safety in mind when buying a home," 29 Apr. 2018
Look at the condition of the door jamb … should it be replaced?

— kenya burrell-vanwormer, Houston Chronicle, "Keep safety in mind when buying a home," 29 Apr. 2018
Then the detectives saw the marks on a light switch and on the door jamb of the office that had belonged to Chris.

— james vlahos, GQ, "The Mystery of the Killer Vacation," 18 Apr. 2018
Look at the condition of the door jamb … should it be replaced?

— by cindy hamann, Houston Chronicle, "Realtor view: Keep safety in mind when buying a home," 22 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jamb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of jamb

Middle English jambe, borrowed from Anglo-French jambe, gaunbe "side post of a door or window," literally, "leg," going back to Late Latin gamba, camba "hock or upper leg of a horse," borrowed from Greek kampḗ "bend, flexion of a limb," probably going back to a European substratal base *kamp-, whence also perhaps Lithuanian kam̃pas "corner, hidden place," Latvian kampis "curved piece of wood, kettle hook," Gothic hamfs "maimed"

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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