1.
[syn: dovetail, dovetail joint]
VERB (1)
1. fit together tightly, as if by means of a dovetail;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dovetail \Dove"tail`\, n. (Carp.)
A flaring tenon, or tongue (shaped like a bird's tail
spread), and a mortise, or socket, into which it fits
tightly, making an interlocking joint between two pieces
which resists pulling a part in all directions except one.
[1913 Webster]
Dovetail molding (Arch.), a molding of any convex section
arranged in a sort of zigzag, like a series of dovetails.
Dovetail saw (Carp.), a saw used in dovetailing.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Dovetail \Dove"tail`\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dovetailed; p. pr.
& vb. n. Dovetailing.]
1. (Carp.)
(a) To cut to a dovetail.
(b) To join by means of dovetails.
[1913 Webster]
2. To fit in or connect strongly, skillfully, or nicely; to
fit ingeniously or complexly.
[1913 Webster]
He put together a piece of joinery so crossly
indented and whimsically dovetailed . . . that it
was indeed a very curious show. --Burke.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
dovetail
n 1: a mortise joint formed by interlocking tenons and mortises
[syn: dovetail, dovetail joint]
v 1: fit together tightly, as if by means of a dovetail
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
126 Moby Thesaurus words for "dovetail":
accord, agree, ankle, answer to, articulate, articulation, assent,
assort with, batten, batten down, be consistent, be of one,
be uniform with, bolt, boundary, buckle, butt, button, cervix,
check, check out, chime, clasp, cleat, clinch, clip, closure,
coact, cohere, coincide, concur, conform, conform with,
connecting link, connecting rod, connection, consist with,
cooperate, correspond, coupling, elbow, embrace, engage,
fall in together, fit in, fit together, gliding joint, go,
go together, go with, hang together, harmonize, hasp, hinge,
hinged joint, hip, hit, hitch, hold together, hook, interact,
interchange, interface, interlace, interlock, intermesh, interplay,
intersect, intertwine, interweave, interwork, jam, jibe, join,
joining, joint, juncture, knee, knuckle, latch, link, lock, match,
mesh, miter, mortise, nail, neck, overlap, parallel, peg, pin,
pivot, pivot joint, rabbet, register, register with, respond to,
rivet, scarf, screw, seam, sew, shoulder, sing in chorus, skewer,
snap, sort with, square, square with, stand together, staple,
stick, stitch, suture, symphysis, tack, tally, tie rod, toggle,
toggle joint, union, wedge, weld, wrist, zipper