tenon

[ ten-uhn ]
See synonyms for tenon on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a projection formed on the end of a timber or the like for insertion into a mortise of the same dimensions.

verb (used with object)
  1. to provide with a tenon.

  2. to join by or as by a tenon.

  1. to join securely.

Origin of tenon

1
1400–50; late Middle English <Middle French, equivalent to ten(ir) to hold (<Latin tenēre) + -on noun suffix

Other words from tenon

  • ten·on·er, noun

Words Nearby tenon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tenon in a sentence

  • The supporting standard is constructed of oak, with mortise-and-tenon joints, as shown in Fig. 4.

  • The glue must be applied immediately after the tenon is removed from the water, and then inserted in the mortise.

  • The end of the tenon and the mortise is then covered with a piece of metal, fastened with screws as shown.

  • The tenon is one hole in length, and the head of the standard one hole and a half in length.

  • A bridle joint is often defined as the reverse of a mortise and tenon, and is chiefly used in the carpentry and joinery trades.

    Woodwork Joints | William Fairham

British Dictionary definitions for tenon

tenon

/ (ˈtɛnən) /


noun
  1. the projecting end of a piece of wood formed to fit into a corresponding mortise in another piece

verb(tr)
  1. to form a tenon on (a piece of wood)

  2. to join with a tenon and mortise

Origin of tenon

1
C15: from Old French, from tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre

Derived forms of tenon

  • tenoner, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012