Engineering English
Purlin
Civil Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A horizontal structural member in a roof that spans between rafters or trusses to support roof sheeting and transfer loads to the main frames.
Example in context
“The structural engineer selected Z-shaped purlins for the industrial building roof to maximize strength and allow nesting during shipping.”
“Yapı mühendisi, endüstriyel bina çatısı için mukavemeti en üst düzeye çıkarmak ve nakliye sırasında yuvalamaya izin vermek için Z şeklinde aşıklar seçti.”
Where engineers use it
Purlins are secondary structural members that span between primary frames. Engineers design them for bending and deflection, and connections are checked for rotational restraint provided by sag rods or bridging.
Synonyms: roof purlin, secondary beam
Practice: can you use “Purlin” at work?
In a design review, the junior engineer proposes using channel purlins on a long-span roof. Explain why Z or C sections are typically preferred over channels and what bridging is required.
Show a model answer
“Verify the purlin section is adequate for the combined load case.”
“Purlin” in 21 languages
| English | Purlin |
|---|---|
| Turkish | aşık |
| French | panne |
| German | Pfette |
| Spanish | correa |
| Chinese | 檩条 |
| Arabic | مدادة |
| Portuguese | terça |
| Russian | прогон |
| Japanese | 母屋 |
| Italian | arcareccio |
| Vietnamese | xà gồ |
| Hindi | पर्लिन |
| Thai | แป |
| Indonesian | gording |
| Korean | 도리 |
| Bengali | পার্লিন |
| Dutch | gording |
| Swedish | takås |
| Finnish | orsi |
| Ukrainian | прогін |
Frequently asked questions
What does Purlin mean in engineering?
A horizontal structural member in a roof that spans between rafters or trusses to support roof sheeting and transfer loads to the main frames. In Civil Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Purlin?
Purlin is pronounced /ˈpɜːrlɪn/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Purlin used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The structural engineer selected Z-shaped purlins for the industrial building roof to maximize strength and allow nesting during shipping.”
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