Strut (or Strutting Piece)

Strut (Or Strutting Piece).

In carpentry, any piece that keeps two others from approaching, and is, therefore, itself in a state of compression; in contradistinction to a tie, which keeps the two points of the frame to which its extremities are attached from receding, and is, therefore, in a state of tension. — Parker, Gloss. of Architect. s.v.