soffit

/ˈsɑfət/

Other forms: soffits

A soffit is the underside of a part on a building, like a protective covering under the eaves of a house, or the surface of an arch as seen from below.

The word soffit traces back to the Latin word suffixus, meaning “fastened below.” So when your dad asks you to help replace the soffit, you know you’ll be dealing with the underside of some part of a building. The most common type of soffit is the one you’ll see on the underside of the eaves, running from the outside wall to the outer edge of the roof.

Definitions of soffit

1. noun

   the underside of a part of a building (such as an arch or overhang or beam etc.)
   type of:

   side

   an extended outer surface of an object