[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

dovetail \dove"tail`\, n. carp.
   a flaring tenon, or tongue shaped like a bird's tail
   spread, and a mortise, or socket, into which it fits
   tightly, making an interlocking joint between two pieces
   which resists pulling a part in all directions except one.
   1913 webster

   dovetail molding arch., a molding of any convex section
      arranged in a sort of zigzag, like a series of dovetails.
      

   dovetail saw carp., a saw used in dovetailing.
      1913 webster
see also:
dovetail molding dovetail saw 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

dovetail \dove"tail`\, v. t. imp.  p. p. dovetailed; p. pr.
    vb. n. dovetailing.
   1. carp.
      a to cut to a dovetail.
      b to join by means of dovetails.
          1913 webster

   2. to fit in or connect strongly, skillfully, or nicely; to
      fit ingeniously or complexly.
      1913 webster

            he put together a piece of joinery so crossly
            indented and whimsically dovetailed . . . that it
            was indeed a very curious show.       --burke.
      1913 webster
see also:
dovetailed dovetailing 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

dovetail
     n : a mortise joint formed by interlocking tenons and mortises
         syn: dovetail joint
     v : fit together tightly, as if by means of a dovetail
see also:
dovetail joint 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

126 moby thesaurus words for "dovetail":
   accord, agree, ankle, answer to, articulate, articulation, assent,
   assort with, batten, batten down, be consistent, be of one,
   be uniform with, bolt, boundary, buckle, butt, button, cervix,
   check, check out, chime, clasp, cleat, clinch, clip, closure,
   coact, cohere, coincide, concur, conform, conform with,
   connecting link, connecting rod, connection, consist with,
   cooperate, correspond, coupling, elbow, embrace, engage,
   fall in together, fit in, fit together, gliding joint, go,
   go together, go with, hang together, harmonize, hasp, hinge,
   hinged joint, hip, hit, hitch, hold together, hook, interact,
   interchange, interface, interlace, interlock, intermesh, interplay,
   intersect, intertwine, interweave, interwork, jam, jibe, join,
   joining, joint, juncture, knee, knuckle, latch, link, lock, match,
   mesh, miter, mortise, nail, neck, overlap, parallel, peg, pin,
   pivot, pivot joint, rabbet, register, register with, respond to,
   rivet, scarf, screw, seam, sew, shoulder, sing in chorus, skewer,
   snap, sort with, square, square with, stand together, staple,
   stick, stitch, suture, symphysis, tack, tally, tie rod, toggle,
   toggle joint, union, wedge, weld, wrist, zipper

Dovetail >> D Words
Dovetail, definition of term: Dovetail
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