wall plate

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun A horizontal timber situated along the top of a wall at the level of the eaves for bearing the ends of joists or rafters.
• noun A plate used to attach a bracket or similar device to a wall.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun In building, a timber placed horizontally in or on a wall, under the ends of girders, joists, and other timbers.
• noun In mining, one of the two long pieces of timber which with two short ones (end pieces) make up a set in the timbering of a shaft.
• noun In machinery, a vertical plate at the back of a plumber-block bracket, for attaching it to a wall or post.
• noun A plaque, like that of a sconce; especially, a mirror from the face of which projects the bracket or arm sup porting a candle.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun plate (a timber along the top of a wall) to support the ends of joists, etc., and distribute the load