n. Any of the wood, steel, or concrete beams set parallel from wall to wall or across or abutting girders to support a floor or ceiling. tr.v. joist·ed, joist·ing, joists To construct with joists. [Middle English giste, joiste, from Old French giste, from feminine past participle of gesir, to lie, lie down, from Latin iacēre; see yē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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