[Cf. KING-POST.] One of two upright timbers in a roof-truss, which are framed above into the rafters and below into the tie-beam, at points equidistant from its middle or ends.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 127. The use of the queen-posts is similar to that of the king-posts; viz. for furnishing a general support for the principals.
1847. Smeaton, Builder’s Man., 72. When the king-post is not thought to be sufficient to support the pressure … Queen-posts … may be used.
1851. Turner, Dom. Archit., II. iv. 162. This [roof] is very strong and massive, with tie-beams and queen posts.
attrib. 1836. Parker, Gloss. Archit. (1850), 394. A king-post roof has one vertical post in each truss, a queen-post roof has two.
