carpenter \car"penter\, n. of. carpentier, f. charpentier, ll.
   carpentarius, fr. l. carpentum wagon, carriage.
   an artificer who works in timber; a framer and builder of
   houses, ships, etc.

   syn: carpenter, joiner.

   usage: the carpenter frames and puts together roofs,
          partitions, floors, and other structural parts of a
          building. the joiner supplies stairs, doors shutters,
          mantelpieces, cupboards, and other parts necessary to
          finishing the building. in america the two trades are
          commonly united.
          1913 webster

   carpenter ant zool., any species of ant which gnaws
      galleries in the wood of trees and constructs its nests
      therein. they usually select dead or somewhat decayed
      wood. the common large american species is formica
      pennsylvanica.

   carpenter bee zool., a large hymenopterous insect of the
      genus xylocopa; -- so called because it constructs its
      nest by gnawing long galleries in sound timber. the common
      american species is xylocopa virginica.
      1913 webster
see also:
carpenter joiner carpenter ant formica pennsylvanica carpenter bee xylocopa 
xylocopa virginica 

carpenter ant
     n : ant that nests in decaying wood in which it bores tunnels
         for depositing eggs