jan 1, 1682 - wiver

Description:

A long beam; one of the roof timbers. 1527 <i>ij spare and a wyver xijd</i>, York (CCW125); 1682 <i>one well wrought roof … with wind-bands and wyvers</i>, Scriven. The builder’s contract in this case required him <i>to place his balkes and principle spars soe that the wyvers </i>[should]<i> not beare above ten foot. The said roof to be doubly wyverd, both ends and sides</i> (YAJ16/112). It is on record much earlier as a verb: 1471-2 ‘For a tree and <i>stowres</i> bought for <i>wivering</i>’, Hull (YAJ62/168). It is said to be a form of ‘waver’ (OED) but that spelling is late. See fork, side-waver.

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