Plural of girder; large horizontal beams made of steel or iron used to support the weight of a building, bridge, or other structure.
From 'gird' (to encircle or secure) with the agent suffix '-er' (one who girds), describing beams that girdle and support a structure; the plural '-s' forms the noun.
Girders are the unsung heroes of cities—the massive H-beams and I-beams invisible inside skyscrapers are literally what let us build vertically, replacing the thick stone walls of ancient buildings.
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