soffit

Definition

The visible underside of an arch, balcony, beam, cornice, staircase, vault or any other architectural element.

Etymology

From French soffite, from Italian soffitto, from Vulgar Latin *suffīctus, perfect passive participle of Latin suffīgō (“to fasten or fix onto”).

Example Sentences

• "From 1945 onwards, deterioration in the condition of the brickwork in the arch soffits was kept under close observation, and in 1951 it was decided that strengthening must be undertaken."
• "If the soffit is to be sloping, simply attach the soffit board(s) to the underside of the rafters, butting the edges tight against the fascia board in front and the barn siding in the back."
• "A soffit is the underside of any part of a building's structure. Most people know about the soffit boards below their fascia boards (which cap off the ends of a roof's rafters). But if you walk through a brick-built tunnel and glance upwards, for example, you will be looking at the soffit of the arch."