gambrel roof
- noun
- /ˈɡæmbrel ruːf/
- Specialized
:
techo gambrel
- The barn's gambrel roof allowed for extra storage space in the loft.
Examples
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Many colonial homes feature a classic gambrel roof design.
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They decided on a gambrel roof for the new shed to give it a traditional look.
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The barn has a beautiful gambrel roof.
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Many gambrel roofs are found in rural areas.
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The charming farmhouse featured a beautiful gambrel roof that enhanced its rustic appearance.
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Many barns in the countryside are constructed with a gambrel roof to provide extra headroom in the loft.
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As we drove through the historic district, we admired several houses that showcased the unique design of a gambrel roof.
Synonyms
A roof that has two slopes on each side with the lower slope steeper, often on barns
How Steep
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'gambrel' specifies a particular roof shape (steep lower slopes) and 'roof' marks the category, so 'gambrel roof' simply denotes that type of roof. Although 'gambrel' is a specialized, low-frequency word, a learner who knows both constituents can derive the MWE's meaning straightforwardly.
Etymology
Gambrel roof may come from an old butcher's tool called a gambrel, a hook or frame used to hold an animal's bent leg. The roof's two-sloped shape looks like that bent leg or hook, so the name came to mean the barn roof that gives 'extra storage' in the loft.