α. 1600s– breastsummer Brit. 
/ˈbrɛs(t)ˌsʌmə/, U.S. /ˈbrɛs(t)ˌsəmər/, 1700s brestsommer, 1800s breastsommer.
β. 1700s– bressumer, 1800s bressomer, 1800s bressommer, 1800s– bressummer.
bressumern.
/ˈbrɛsəmə/, U.S. /ˈbrɛsəmər/ Architecture.
A horizontal load-bearing beam which runs the length of a side of a building and supports a superstructure such as a jetty (i.e. a projecting upper storey). Also: a long horizontal beam supporting the wall over an opening such as a fireplace. Cf. summer n.2 3, breast beam n. 3, and breastplate n. 3c.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > framework of building > [noun] > members of
pan1284
balka1300
lacec1330
pautre1360
dorman1374
rib1378
montant1438
dormant?1454
transom1487
ground-pillar?a1500
barge-couple1562
spar foot1579
frankpost1587
tracing1601
sleeper1607
bressumer1611
master-beam1611
muntin1611
discharge1620
dormer1623
mounting post1629
tassel1632
baufrey1640
pier1663
storey post1663
breastplate?1667
mudsill1685
template1700
brow-post1706
brow-stone1761
runner1772
stretching beam1776
pole plate1787
sabliere1800
frame stud1803
bent1815
mounting1819
bond-timber1823
storey rod1823
wall-hold1833
wall-strap1833
truss-block1883
sleeper-beam1937
shell1952
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Contrefrontail, the brow-peece..of a dore; a haunse, or breast summer.
1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Building Brest-Sommers, Girders, Trimmers, and Wall-plates.
1880 Daily News 27 Apr. 3/7 The bressummer was then burning.
1961 J. C. Adams Globe Playhouse ii. 26 Whereas the breastsummers of the inner façade of the Globe spanned posts 12 feet apart, those of the outer wall..spanned posts 17½ feet apart.
2004 P. Hymers New Home Builder x. 198 The beam across the front is the bressumer or breastsummer, in the case of ‘ye olde worlde inglenook’ fireplace, and traditionally is made of a whopping great lump of oak in farmhouse-style design.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1611