TRE] ( 148 ) 



Transverse Strain. Side pressure ; instance, a beam carrying a 

 floor ; if that breaks by being overloaded the fracture has 

 been caused by " transverse strain," which is distinct from 

 " tension " and " compression " (which see). " Joists," in 

 the timbering of floors, being deeper than they are thick is 

 provision against " transverse strain," whereas compressive 

 and tensive strains suggest that their sections be square or 

 equal-sided. 



Tray. A temporary agricultural fence. See " Fleak." 

 Tread. The horizontal surface of a step. 



Treadle Plank Cross Cut. In which a circular saw is carried on a 

 swinging arm and brought into and out of cut by means of a 

 foot treadle, the plank or board being stationary during the 

 process. 



Treads. Wood in the steps of staircases. 



Tree. A plant of considerable height, growing with a single 

 trunk. The oldest trees in the world are four in number : 

 the Baobab or Bo-tree of Senegal ; the Dragon-tree of Orotava, 

 in Teneriffe ; the deciduous Cypress of Chapultepee in 

 Mexico ; the Chestnut trees on Mount Etna. See Brewer's 

 Phrase and Fable. 



Tree. As a piece of converted wood, occupies a strange 

 position in the wood and other trades. As a noun, it was 

 clearly in old times a variant of " timber " and " wood " ; 

 instance, roof-tree, cross-tree, mantle-tree, ridge-tree, axle- 

 tree, saddle-tree, boot-tree, stocking-tree, heel-tree, spade- 

 tree, single-tree, whiffle-tree, etc. 



Tree-felling Machines. A machine in which a cross-cut saw is 

 used for cutting through the trunk of a tree by power. A 

 steam cylinder is fitted on a swivel with guide bars attached 

 to carry a slide actuated by a piston rod attached to a piston 

 working in the cylinder. The saws are fitted to the slide and 

 a reciprocating motion is imparted to it by steam. The saw 

 lies in a horizontal plane close to the ground, and is fed into 

 the trunk by a quadrant and handwheel. 



Treenail (i.e., a nail of wood). (1) Used as a "nail" in the 

 instance of securing wooden planks or sheathing to the ribs 

 and timbers of a ship. (2) A strong wooden " pin " or 

 " peg " used in timber- framing to secure and draw close the 

 mortised and tenoned joints, as in " half- timber work," 

 " roofing-timbers," " bell-frames," etc. The smaller ex- 

 amples in old wainscots and furniture are termed " pins." 

 " Treenails " are used in fixing railway-chairs to wooden or 

 stone sleepers. See " Dowel " and " Drawbore." 



