Gable End
 

I am looking to see how others describe a small section of roof that continues all the way across a gable end. I have had people call it an eyebrow but am not convinced that is the correct term. It isn't a return because it is goes across the full gable. I appreciate hearing what anyone else would call this.

Is this what you're talking about? A Dutch Hip.

that is what I call a full length water table. a partial water table wraps around following the roofline and goes a few feet onto the gable wall and then returns back into the wall.

That small roof going across s gable end where I'm from is called s Pent Roof.

Is this what you were describing?

Those are called a Jerkinhead Roof where I'm from.

I think he is referring to when the return goes across the whole gable and connects to the other return. We made up our own term for this. We call it a "Pizza Hut" return.

if you are talking about the small roof section on the gable end wall that connects the roof overhang on one side to the roof overhang on the other as shown on the main roof in this photo (above the 3 second floor windows) it is know as a "Full Greek Return". This is a feature of the Greek Revival Architectural style.

for those interested, this is know as a cornice return, or a Greek Return (usually with a small roof section from the facia to the gable end wall).

I think full Greek return is what I am talking about like in that picture. I had always thought that a dutch hip was like in the hand drawn pic where the top of the gable turns in to a hip not the opposite. I will be looking more into that now. I thought I would see how ever one else was talking about this detail because where I am from it always gets weird when carpenters are trying to talk about this. Thanks for that feedback

it is like taking the houses overhang and hanging it off of the gable wall, that is the basic idea involving the structure.

The pic above I would call a French Hip. The drawing I would call a Dutch Hip.

Tham

The roof in the hand-drawn pic is a very common form in N. Germany, Holland and SE England.and will go under a variety of names depending on location. Similarly, in the US, no doubt this and other roof forms are known by different names in different states/areas.
Ultimately, the question is academic. If it's necessary to get across to someone (eg a carpenter) what you mean, draw a simple sketch or, better still, show a photo or diagram from a book.