timber construction

I was going to let it go, but it keeps bothering me. (Sorry, David. It's not your fault. It's mine.)

Timber construction implies using large wooden beams to build. Think Amish barn or even log cabin (though the beam walls are not required). Nails aren't usually used in this sort of framing. It's all joints and pegs.

The type of construction popular in the US using dimensional lumber (2x4s, etc.) is usually known as stick framing.