Entrait

Entrait is a term used in timber-framed architecture and carpentry to denote a horizontal cross-piece that ties together vertical posts. Running parallel to the ground, the entrait helps resist lateral thrust and keeps the frame square, working in concert with diagonal braces and other bracing elements to stabilize the structure. In traditional framing, several entrait members may be employed at different levels to define floors and wall planes.

The entrait forms part of the frame’s load path: it transfers weight and stabilizes the wall by distributing forces from above to the posts. Depending on the design, an entrait can be located at or near floor levels, forming the top of the lower frame or serving as a floor-level tie-beam, and there may be multiple entrait members at different heights in multi-storey constructions. The term is especially associated with medieval and early modern timber-framed buildings in Northern Europe, including parts of France and the British Isles, where joints are typically mortise-and-tenon connections.

In the study and restoration of historic timber-framed structures, entrait is used to describe these horizontal members, with regional terminology varying. In modern reconstruction of traditional frames, entrait patterns are often replicated to preserve authenticity.

See also: timber framing terms such as posts, beams, braces, and the broader concept of bracing (contreventement) in timber construction.