top timber: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Low frequency, literary/archaic)Literary, Archaic, Historical, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “top timber” mean?
The highest or most prominent members of an organization or society.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The highest or most prominent members of an organization or society; the elite.
Originally a naval/shipbuilding term for the highest structural timber; metaphorically applied to people of highest rank or quality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both variants. Slightly more attested in British historical/literary texts.
Connotations
Both: Archaic, formal, possibly slightly ironic or nostalgic.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern corpora. Found in 19th/early 20th century literature and historical writing.
Grammar
How to Use “top timber” in a Sentence
[the/possessive] + top timber + of + [organization/field]be + among the + top timberVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business contexts. Historical reference to company leadership.
Academic
Used in historical/sociological texts analysing class structure metaphorically.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would sound deliberately archaic or poetic.
Technical
Original technical meaning in shipbuilding/architecture (uppermost structural wood).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “top timber”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “top timber”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “top timber”
- Using it as a countable noun (*a top timber). It's collective.
- Using in contemporary, informal contexts where it sounds jarring.
- Confusing with 'top brass' (which is more common and military).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered an archaic or literary expression. Modern equivalents are 'elite', 'upper echelon', or 'top brass'.
No, it is a collective noun referring to a group of high-ranking people within an organization or society.
It originates from shipbuilding, where 'top timber' referred to a high, curved structural piece of wood in a ship's frame. It was metaphorically extended to people by the 19th century.
It functions as a compound noun, specifically a collective noun.
The highest or most prominent members of an organization or society.
Top timber is usually literary, archaic, historical, figurative in register.
Top timber: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɒp ˈtɪmbə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɑːp ˈtɪmbər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “From keel to top timber (completely, throughout a ship/organization).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a tall ship's mast (top timber) – only the most important part is at the very top, supporting the sails (leading the organization).
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY/ORGANIZATION IS A STRUCTURE (SHIP/BUILDING). IMPORTANT PEOPLE ARE LOAD-BEARING PARTS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'top timber' be MOST appropriately used?