Travée
/trəˈveɪ/noun
An architectural bay or division between two consecutive supports such as columns, piers, or roof trusses.
Did you know?Travée ultimately descends from Latin trabs, “beam,” the same ancient root associated with the structural idea of a dwelling or built enclosure.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*treb-
“A dwelling or wooden structure; the reconstructed root is associated with building and habitation.”
Classical Latin
Latin
trabs
“A beam, timber, or wooden structural member.”
Late Latin
Latin
trābea
“A beam or beam-supported structure; the form contributed to later Romance architectural vocabulary.”
Old French
Old French
travée
“A structural bay or the space between supporting members.”
17th Century
English
travee
“An architectural bay, especially the interval between columns or piers.”
Modern English
English
travée
“A specialized architectural term for a bay or structural division.”