jamb

SayJAM/d͡ʒæm/

Pluraljambs

Verbjambs, jambing, jambed

4 meanings of jamb

1
nouncountable
One of the two upright sides of a door, window, or fireplace opening.
Like the two upright posts that hold up the sides of a doorway.
The door's hinges were screwed into the wooden jamb.
She leaned against the jamb while waiting for the bell to ring.
Similarpost, upright, doorpost
Note
2
nouncountable
A thick block of rock that stops miners from following a vein of ore.
Like hitting a huge rock underground that stops you from digging any deeper.
The miners hit a jamb and had to dig around it.
A solid jamb blocked the tunnel where the ore should have been.
Note
3
nouncountable
A piece of armor worn to protect the leg.
Like the hard pads that guard a player's shins, but made of metal.
The knight strapped a steel jamb over each shin.
His jamb turned aside the spear aimed at his leg.
Similarjambeau
Note
4
verbtransitive
To fix an upright side piece onto a door or window opening.
Like putting the side posts on a doorway before you hang the door.
The builders jamb each doorway before plastering the walls.
Workers jamb the window opening with seasoned oak.
Similarframe

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Old French jambe meaning "leg," which came from Late Latin gamba and originally from a Greek word meaning "bend" or "turning post."