Steuns

Steuns is the plural form of the Dutch noun steun, meaning a prop, brace, or support that holds up or reinforces another object. The term is used across a variety of contexts, including construction, carpentry, furniture, and stage or display settings. Steuns can be temporary during assembly or repair, or permanent components of a structure or object.

Etymology and usage notes: Steun derives from the verb steunen, meaning to lean on or to support. The plural steuns refers to several such supports. The word is standard in both Dutch and Flemish usage, and is commonly understood in multilingual contexts within the Low Countries.

In construction and engineering: Steuns include wooden props, steel braces, or masonry anchors that provide support during erection, repair, or stabilization. Temporary shoring relies on steuns to protect workers and maintain stability, while permanent applications may use buttresses, cross-bracing, or integrated structural members designed to bear loads.

In broader language: Beyond physical support, steun carries figurative meanings such as backing, assistance, or financial support. The singular steun is often used in phrases like "ondersteuning" or "financiële steun," while steuns as a plural is less common in everyday speech when referring to abstract backing; it is more typical to use the singular or a related noun.

See also: Steun, Steunen, Bracing, Buttress.