Trunnels

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Cylindrical pegs of hardwood driven into drilled holes to join planks and beams together in wooden ships and buildings
2. Wooden pins hammered through bored holes to hold structural timbers fast, often used in traditional boatbuilding and framing
3. Round wooden dowels that fasten pieces of timber by being pushed into holes and swelled or wedged in place

Etymology: "Trunnels" is the plural of "trunnel", a wooden peg used to fasten the planks of a ship or a timber frame together. The word is a variant of "treenail", which was pronounced "trenail" and later softened into forms like "trunnel", with the "tree" element reflecting the wood it was made from. Shipbuilders driving these pegs through joined timbers relied on them where iron fastenings would rust or corrode in seawater.

Synonyms: treenail, trenail