rafter (1)EnglishOxford New American Dictionaryrafter1 /ˈraftər, ˈræftər / ▸ noun one of several internal beams extending from the eaves to the peak of a roof and constituting its framework: the rafters above his bed a vaulted hall with exposed rafters. – ORIGIN Old English ræfter, of Germanic origin; related to raft1.