Tenon

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A protruding part of wood designed to insert into a matching cavity for secure assembly
2. A woodworking feature that joins two elements by fitting one into the other for strength
3. A structural element in carpentry that is shaped to fit tightly into a corresponding hole or socket to create a strong joint between two pieces of material

Etymology: The tenon is the carpenter's projecting tongue of wood that slots into a matching hole, called a mortise, to lock two pieces together. Its name comes from Old French "tenon," which is the same word as the verb "tenir," meaning "to hold." The idea is built into the word itself: a tenon exists to hold. The term passed into English through Anglo-Norman, the form of French used by the Norman aristocracy in England, and appears in Middle English as "tenoun" and "tenown" before settling into its modern spelling. Its path into English thus ran through the French-speaking ruling class rather than directly from Latin.

Synonyms: joint, peg, mortise