udegi 腕木

1　A relatively short horizontal timber that functions like a brace. It is attached to and extends outward at a right angle from a post or pillar. The ends are strong enough to support other horizontal members such as eave purlins *gagyō 丸桁, attached by means of cogged joints *watariago 渡腮. Udegi are often used in a pent roof *hisashi 廂, and in a gate called *udegimon 腕木門 or *kidomon 木戸門. In the kidomon, the udegi is inserted through the post.

2　Although considered a misnomer, the term udegi is used for the supports for boardwalk scaffolding *ashiba 足場. These boards are laid between logs called nunomaruta 布丸太. See *mochiokuri 持送.