gambrel

Origin:

mid 16th century (in the sense 'bent piece of wood or iron to hang carcasses on'): from Old Northern French gamberel, from gambier 'forked stick', from gambe 'leg'. The sense 'hipped roof' (mid 19th century) is based on an earlier meaning 'joint in the upper part of a horse's hind leg', the shape of which the roof resembles