Hypertext Webster Gateway: "dovetail"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
2. To fit in or connect strongly, skillfully, or nicely; to
fit ingeniously or complexly.
He put together a piece of joinery so crossly
indented and whimsically dovetailed . . . that it
was indeed a very curious show. --Burke.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
{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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
dovetail
n : a mortise joint formed by interlocking tenons and mortises
[syn: {dovetail joint}]
v : fit together tightly, as if by means of a dovetail
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.