rabbet
Americannoun
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a deep notch formed in or near one edge of a board, framing timber, etc., so that something else can be fitted into it or so that a door or the like can be closed against it.
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a broad groove let into the surface of a board or the like; dado.
verb (used with object)
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to cut a rabbet in (a board or the like).
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to join (boards or the like) by means of a rabbet or rabbets.
verb (used without object)
noun
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a recess, groove, or step, usually of rectangular section, cut into a surface or along the edge of a piece of timber to receive a mating piece
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a joint made between two pieces of timber using a rabbet
verb
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to cut or form a rabbet in (timber)
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to join (pieces of timber) using a rabbet
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rabbet
1350–1400; Middle English rabet < Old French rabat, derivative of rabattre to beat back, beat down; see rebate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The groove or rabbet of a screw; the breech-sight or notch cut on the base-ring of a gun, and also on the swell of the muzzle, by which the piece is laid.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir
It is practicable, if a rabbet or mitered joint is used in the sides, but if the side pieces are butted or dadoed, the rabbet for the bottom shows.
From Handwork in Wood by Noyes, William
The sinking a rabbet in the dead-wood, wherein the heels of the timbers rest.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir
It also fits into a rabbet on the upper back side of the shelf.
From Handwork in Wood by Noyes, William
Also unintentional, but pleasing, is the distinctive throat of the rabbet plane—a design that developed to permit easy discharge of shavings, and one that mass manufacture did not destroy.
From Woodworking Tools 1600-1900 by Welsh, Peter C.
The first range of planks laid upon a ship's bottom, next the keel, into which it is rabbeted, and into the stem and stern-post at the ends.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir
The back rails should, in addition, be rabbeted for the back board as shown.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 2 by Windsor, H. H. (Henry Haven)
Or the runner and guide may be made of one piece properly rabbeted out.
From Handwork in Wood by Noyes, William
Where caulking is not used, the butts or joints of the planks are sometimes rabbeted, and fayed close, whence they are thus denominated.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir
It is rabbeted on the back to hold a 20 by 38-in. mirror.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 3 by Windsor, H. H. (Henry Haven)
"All you need is one reasonably respectable wife," says Public Relations Wizard Gig Young, rabbeting in a plot gimmick designed to keep a flapdoodle comedy from collapsing in the first reel.
From Time Magazine Archive
These included "Planing, moulding, rabbeting, grooving, mortising, and sawing, both in coarse and fine work, in curved, winding, and transverse directions, and shaping wood in complicated forms."
From Inventions in the Century by Doolittle, William Henry
Instead of rabbeting the mirror frame, a 1/4 by 3/8-in. fillet of oak is nailed around to form the recess, the walnut frame and oak fillet making a pretty contrast.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 2 by Windsor, H. H. (Henry Haven)
Also, without the rabbeting water may get under the cap, and pass along the top till a hole lets it among the bees.
From Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained by Quinby, M. (Moses)
In cutting the rebate the easiest way is to use a rabbeting plane and cut the full length of the pieces.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 2 by Windsor, H. H. (Henry Haven)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
