Etymology From Middle English rof, from Old English hrōf (“roof, ceiling; top, summit; heaven, sky”), from Proto-Germanic *hrōfą (“roof”). Cognate with Scots ruif (“roof, ceiling”), Dutch roef (“cabin on a boat”), Icelandic hróf (“shed”), Irish cró (“pen, barn, cabin”), Proto-Slavic *stropъ (“roof, ceiling”). Compare Faroese rógv (“something high up”).
1
Architecture The external covering at the top of a building.
The roof was blown off by the tornado.
'Twas the house I'd seen the roof of from the beach.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
2 more examples
The very first sound that you’ll hear on the roof (Provided there’s fog) will be Rudolph’s small hoof.1931, Robert L. May, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Montgomery Ward, draft:
The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire! We don't need no water: Let the motherfucker burn! Burn, motherfucker, burn!1984, Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three, “The Roof Is on Fire”:
2
The top external level of a building.
Let's go up to the roof.
When this old world starts getting me down And people are just too much for me to face, I climb way up to the top of the stairs And all my cares just drift right into space On the roof, it's peaceful as can be And there, the world below can't bother me...1962, Gerry Goffin et al., “Up on the Roof”:
3
The upper part of a cavity.
The palate is the roof of the mouth.
As Bent pulled away to the far post, Agbonlahor opted to go it alone, motoring past Gary Caldwell before unleashing a shot into the roof of the net.2011 October 1, John Sinnott, “Aston Villa 2-0 Wigan”, in BBC Sport:
4
Business, Mining The surface or bed of rock immediately overlying a bed of coal or a flat vein.
5
Climbing, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports An overhanging rock wall.
Tom thought his cap a very knowing affair, but confessed that he had a hat in his hat-box; which was accordingly at once extracted from the hind-boot, and Tom equipped in his go-to-meeting roof, as his new friend called it.1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days:
Etymology From Middle English rofen, roven (“to roof”), from the noun (see above).
1
To cover or furnish with a roof.
A trench about ten feet deep was dug in the ground and roofed over with sticks and earth so as to form a dark tunnel.1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 11, page 264:
2
To traverse buildings by walking or climbing across their roofs.
Did you see them, David? I mean, did you see them looking at me? I-I'm walking out of the court, and everybody was practically – yeah, they were gawking. […] I mean, Noah roofed me, I proved it, end of story.1998 March 4, “Law and Disorder”, in Beverly Hills, 90210, season 08, episode 22:
I’m open, hype off the chronic I was smoking, feeling zooted That Brooklyn shit got me stupid I’m loose, kid – that’s what the overproof did What the ruck you looking at, son? You’ll get roofed, kid!2000 January 1, “Stupid”, in Mr. Metaphor (lyrics), The Will Tell Compilation Vol. 1: Thats Right Inc., performed by Word A' Mouth, Block McCloud, and Mr. Metaphor:
2 more examples
Inhale the mystical, the blue shit See me on the stoop shit, act stupid at the park, the ball, get roofed Baby see the cops, the drugs, she boofed it Foie gras at every meal, that means I triple-goosed it2012 November 15, “Brown Bag Wrap”, in Rare Chandeliers, performed by Action Bronson:
You don’t want war, you’re shook of it Hella man dash when their friend got roofed2018 May 5, “Attempted 1.0”, AM (lyrics), performed by Skengdo & AM of 410:
4
To shelter as if under a roof.
They reached him: the pieces of rock had roofed him over—he was without injury or scratch.1865, Thomas Greenbury, Pleasant Rambles Over Moors, Mountains, Mines, and Waterfalls:
It built him softly round, it roofed him warmly over, it rested, all so firm, on selection.1903 September 28, Henry James, The Ambassadors, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC: