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 rabbet should therefore be plowed before the joint is made.
From Handwork in Wood by William Noyes
Why, why? and where man, have you been? at a Poulters That you are cas'd thus like a rabbet?
From The Little French Lawyer A Comedy by Francis Beaumont
I promised Allworthy already to give up half my estate—od rabbet it!
From History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding
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 William Noyes
Letting one piece of timber into another with a rabbet to give additional strength or finish.
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 Sir Edward Belcher
The side pieces are also rabbeted for the glass and the posts have grooves 1/2 in. deep cut in them to hold these side pieces.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 2 by H. H. (Henry Haven) Windsor
It will be noted that the edges of the lid are rabbeted.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 2 by H. H. (Henry Haven) Windsor
Some are particularly strong, as those in the hold, which are mostly built with rabbeted or cyphered plank; others are light, and removable at pleasure.
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 Sir Edward Belcher
They are rabbeted on the inside for the glass and are finished on all sides.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 2 by H. H. (Henry Haven) Windsor
It is rabbeted on the back to hold a 20 by 38-in. mirror.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 3 by H. H. (Henry Haven) Windsor
"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
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 H. H. (Henry Haven) Windsor
The sides are to be built up separately, the corners being lapped and glued after rabbeting the under arrises sufficient to let the glass in.
From Mission Furniture How to Make It, Part 2 by H. H. (Henry Haven) Windsor
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 M. (Moses) Quinby
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 William Henry Doolittle
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.
