See quotations.
a. 1790. The earth was often the only floor, but more commonly the floor was made of “puncheons,” or slabs split from logs, hewed smooth on the upper side, and resting bedded upon poles raised above ground. The “loft,” or attic story, sometimes had a puncheon floor, and a rude ladder in one corner served as a stairway.—Monette, ‘History of the Mississippi Valley,’ ii. 6 (N.Y., 1848).
1807. A floor of puncheons, or split plank, were laid, and covered with grass and clay; which made a warm loft.—Patrick Gass, ‘Journal,’ 61. (N.E.D.)
1829. Their “puncheon” shutters, for glass they had none, had excluded the uncertain light and the chill air of evening.—T. Flint, ‘George Mason,’ p. 11 (Boston).
1835. The house was constructed of logs, and the floor was of puncheons—a term, which in Georgia, means split logs, with their faces a little smoothed with the axe or hatchet.—A. B. Longstreet, ‘Georgia Scenes,’ p. 9. (Italics in the original.)
1838. The floor is constructed of short, thick planks, technically termed “puncheons,” which are confined by wooden pins.—E. Flagg, ‘The Far West,’ i. 189 (N.Y.).
1848. See CATS AND CLAY.
