Chris,

I see your point that common practice does not establish truth. However, in the case of language, I think common practice does establish meaning to some degree.

In this particular case, I would posit that if I were to gather all carpenters in the state of Georgia together in a room and say "draw a gambrel roof", the vast majority would draw the two pitched roof the original poster is modeling.


Do you feel the same about other terms that have changed -- like wainscot? If we changed the meaning 300 years ago is the "new" meaning right yet? 500 years?

all in good fun...