rafter

1 of 2

noun (1)

raf·​ter ˈraf-tər 

: any of the parallel beams that support a roof

raftered

ˈraf-tərd 

adjective

rafter

2 of 2

noun (2)

raft·​er ˈraf-tər 

1

: one who maneuvers logs into position and binds them into rafts

2

: one who travels by raft

Examples of rafter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Pavel Datsyuk's presence in Detroit over the past week served as a reminder there are Russian numbers worthy of the rafters at Little Caesars Arena, Helene St. James writes. —Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 25 Nov. 2024

Wade already has his No. 3 in the rafters at Kaseya Center, with acknowledgment of his Hall of Fame presence attached. —Ira Winderman, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024

That is indeed the work of a player worthy of seeing his uniform raised to the rafters high above UBS Arena alongside those of Tonelli, Bossy, Trottier, Potvin, Gillies as well as Butch Goring, Bobby Nystrom and Billy Smith. —Jerry Beach, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Other performances are good, but suffer when the actors — Yeoh and, more specifically, Goldblum — can’t manage to sing to the rafters. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English ræfter; akin to Old Norse raptr rafter

Noun (2)

raft entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rafter

noun

raf·​ter

ˈraf-tər

: one of the usually sloping timbers that support a roof

raftered

-tərd

adjective