Obs. exc. dial. in comb. Forms: 1 first, fyrst, 3 firste, south. virste. [OE. fyrst str. fem. = OHG. first (MHG. virst, Ger. first):—*fersti-z; cf. the ablaut-var. Du., LG. vorst:—*fursti-z, of same meaning, which corresponds phonetically to Skr. pṛshṭí fem. rib; in sense it is nearer to the (prob. cognate) Skr. pṛshṭá back.]
The inward roof or ceiling of a chamber; also, a ridge-pole; = first-piece.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 126. Laquear, fyrst.
c. 1275. Death, 155, in O. E. Misc., 179.
| Þe rof and þe virste | |
| schal ligge on þine chynne. |
1378. Durham Halm. Rolls (Surtees), 149. In manu Johannis fil. Gilberti x spars et j first, et in gardino præd. Thomæ sunt v ribs et firsts.
b. Comb., first-piece (Chesh. Gloss.), -pole, (Shropsh. Wordbk.), the ridge piece of roof-timbers.
