kerf
a cut or incision made by a saw or the like in a piece of wood.
Mining. a deep cut a few inches high, used to undermine a portion of a coal or mineral seam.
the act of cutting or carving.
to make a kerf or kerfs in (a piece of wood, a coal seam, etc.).
Origin of kerf
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use kerf in a sentence
In the sketch the saw kerfs are shown at 45 degrees, right and left, and other angles and kerfs may be made where desired.
Woodwork Joints | William FairhamA piece of thin saw-cut veneer is afterwards glued into the saw kerfs, and when dry the face is levelled off flush.
Woodwork Joints | William FairhamIf both saw kerfs are taken from one piece and none from the next then one length will be 3⁄16″ shorter than the other.
Farm Mechanics | Herbert A. ShearerAn excellent plan is to make saw-kerfs for mitres in the cleat of a bench-hook (Fig. 121), in the way just shown.
Woodworking for Beginners | Charles Gardner WheelerYou can cut this groove by making two saw-kerfs and paring out the wood between with a chisel.
Woodworking for Beginners | Charles Gardner Wheeler
British Dictionary definitions for kerf
/ (kɜːf) /
the cut made by a saw, an axe, etc
Origin of kerf
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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