Word of the Day
9 July 2026
mortise-and-tenon joint
nounWoodworking
A joint made by inserting a projecting tenon into a mortised slot.
Why this one
Mortise comes from Old French for a hole cut to receive something; tenon from tenir, to hold. Examples survive in Egyptian furniture and Chinese timber frames, and the same logic runs through modern door stiles and rails.
In use
Rails are dry fit already, so once the mortise-and-tenon joint pulls up tight I'll mark the haunches and glue up after lunch.
Written by our editors to show how the term is used, not a recorded quotation.Sources
- Definition sourceWiktionary