Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. A fan-shaped tenon that forms a tight interlocking joint when fitted into a corresponding mortise.
- n. A joint formed by interlocking one or more such tenons and mortises.
- v. To cut into or join by means of dovetails.
- v. To connect or combine precisely or harmoniously.
- v. To be joined together by means of dovetails.
- v. To combine or interlock into a unified whole: The nurses' schedules dovetailed, so that one was always on duty.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In carpentry, a tenon cut in the form of a 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 . - To unite by tenons in the form of a pigeon's tail spread let into corresponding mortises in a board or timber: as, to dovetail the angles of a box.
- 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.
- 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
- n. A type of carpentry joint where adjoining boards are fastened by interlocking fan-shaped cutouts.
- v. To fit together well
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. 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.
- v. To cut to a dovetail.
- v. To join by means of dovetails.
- v. To fit in or connect strongly, skillfully, or nicely; to fit ingeniously or complexly.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a mortise joint formed by interlocking tenons and mortises
- v. fit together tightly, as if by means of a dovetail
Examples
“A thru single dovetail_, Fig. 267, is similar to a slip-joint except that instead of a tenon there is a dovetail.”
“First, check the drawers to make sure they contain dovetail joints, which complement the natural strength of the wood.”
“I agree with John the dovetail is a perfect joint the way it works is genius, (when done right) I either need someone to coach me on a different way to get a good dovetail (everytime) or change.”
“All quality dressers should be made out of wood-on-wood joints such as dovetail and doweling joints.”
“They all kind of dovetail and make up a story that's bizarre but ...”
“Heals has lovely wool and mohair "dovetail" rugs in two-tone pinks (4,450 pounds; heals. co.uk).”
“And just to kind of dovetail on what Renee was talking about a little bit about the Stockholm syndrome -- I was a hostage negotiator for 22 years, and this is, you know, something we talk about now and then and just kick it around.”
“Is there any indication -- these two points kind of dovetail actually -- any indication that the Iraqi government is actually seeking out this kind of assistance, the kind of assistance being described by the Iranian ambassador in Iraq, is there any indication that Iraq is seeking this out?”
“I just kind of dovetail all these things together," he says.”
“Does that kind of dovetail with allegations that he had a lot of affairs?”
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