dovetail

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A fan-shaped tenon that forms a tight interlocking joint when fitted into a corresponding mortise.
2. n. A joint formed by interlocking one or more such tenons and mortises.
3. v. To cut into or join by means of dovetails.
4. v. To connect or combine precisely or harmoniously.
5. v. To be joined together by means of dovetails.
6. v. To combine or interlock into a unified whole: The nurses' schedules dovetailed, so that one was always on duty.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In carpentry, a tenon cut in the form of dove's tail spread, or of a reversed wedge; a manner of fastening boards or timbers together by letting tenons so cut on one into corresponding cavities or mortises in another. This is the strongest of all fastenings or joints, as the dovetails cannot be drawn out except by force applied in the direction of their length. Dovetails are either exposed or concealed; concealed dovetailing is of two kinds, lapped and mitered. See also cut under joint.
2. To unite by tenons in the form of pigeon's tail spread let into corresponding mortises in a board or timber: as, to dovetail the angles of a box.
3. Figuratively, to unite closely, as if by dovetails; fit or adjust exactly and firmly; adapt, as one institution to another, so that they work together smoothly and harmoniously.
4. n. plural Two irons, one with a flange, the other with a recess, cut to a taper: used to hold carriage-doors in position.

Wiktionary

1. n. woodworking A type of joint where adjoining boards are fastened by interlocking fan-shaped cutouts.
2. v. woodworking To unite with a dovetail joint.
3. v. To fit together well.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. 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.
2. v. To cut to a dovetail.
3. v. To join by means of dovetails.
4. v. To fit in or connect strongly, skillfully, or nicely; to fit ingeniously or complexly.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a mortise joint formed by interlocking tenons and mortises
2. v. fit together tightly, as if by means of a dovetail