girding beam

girt

girt, 2 A horizontal structural member in the framing, 3 of an early timber-framed house, typically supporting the ends of the ceiling joists and acting as the main horizontal support for the floor above; often located about halfway between the groundsill, 2 and the horizontal timber at the top of the wall (the top plate) The term girt often is preceded by an adjective indicating its position; for example, front girt denotes a heavy timber that runs horizontally along the front of the house; rear girt denotes a heavy timber that runs horizontally along the rear face of the house; chimney girt denotes a heavy timber that acts a main horizontal support between chimney posts. See illustration under timber-framed house.