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dovetail joint

dovetail joint

1 6.6
A strong connection in wood made by fitting interlocking angled pieces together
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌvˌteɪl dʒɔɪnt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : unión de cola de milano
  • High-quality cabinets often feature dovetail joints for added durability and strength.

Examples

  • Mullen: Tomorrow I'll show you how to make a dovetail joint.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • So this is that laser head and you know it's this metal piece attaches to this axis using this dovetail joint right here.

  • lwent with a dovetail joint on the drawers.

  • The carpenter demonstrated how to create a strong connection using a dovetail joint in the furniture.

  • To ensure the best craftsmanship, she insisted that each drawer include a dovetail joint in its design.

Synonyms

dovetail
vsdovetail joint
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A strong wood joint made by fitting wedge pieces into matching notches

is the same meaning but given as the fuller phrase for the connection
tongue and groove joint
vsdovetail joint
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A way of joining wooden boards by fitting an edge into a matching slot to make a flat strong surface

is interlocking wedge shaped projections that make stronger, more durable connections
lap joint
vsdovetail joint
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A place where two pieces lie on top of each other and are fastened together

is interlocking wedge shaped joinery that locks pieces together, not mere overlap
mortise-and-tenon joint
vsdovetail joint
  • Specialized
8.2

A strong wood connection where a peg on one piece fits into a hole in another piece

is interlocking wedge shaped pieces rather than a projection in a hole

How Strong

mortise-and-tenon joint
  • Specialized
8.2
dovetail joint
  • Specialized
1 6.6
tongue and groove joint
  • Specialized
1 4.9
lap joint
  • Specialized
1 5.8
butt joint
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

dovetail + joint

The term is directly compositional: 'dovetail' already names a specific type of interlocking woodworking piece and 'joint' indicates a connection, so together they denote that particular strong interlocking connection. This is a technical noun–noun naming pattern (almost tautological) and follows normal compositional logic, so a learner who knows both constituent meanings will understand the expression.

Etymology

The term dovetail joint comes from the way wood pieces are cut: each piece has little 'tails' shaped like a dove's tail that fit into matching slots. When the 'tails' lock into the slots the pieces hold together very tightly, so the name shows a very strong, neat 'connection'.