Meaning

The tail of a dove (family Columbidae); also, something having the shape of a dove's tail..

Definitions by Sense

1. The tail of a dove (family Columbidae); also, something having the shape of a dove's tail.
2. In full dovetail joint: a type of joint where adjoining components are fastened by multiple tenons cut into wedge shapes resembling a dove's tail, which interlock with mortises having corresponding shapes.
3. A tenon cut into a wedge shape resembling a dove's tail so that it interlocks with a mortise having a corresponding shape in a dovetail joint.
4. (heraldry) A line resembling a dovetail joint (sense 2.1).
5. To unite (components) with a dovetail (noun sense 2.1) or similar joint.
6. To combine or fit (things) together well.
7. To interweave (a number of algorithms or subprograms) so that they can be run more or less simultaneously.
8. To seamlessly move a melody from one instrument to another.

Example Sentences

Beſides this, another fine Starfiſh came to my Hands, […] Its body hath ten corners, and it hath a Star above vvith as many Rays; each of theſe one may compare unto a Sail of the VVindmills that the Children run againſt the VVind vvithal, or to a piece of ſuch Croſſes that are broad before, and narrovv vvhere they meet together; that is to ſay, of the ſhape of a Dove-tail: […]

[T]heſe muſt be joined at Bottom to the Piles by a ſtrong Dove-tail, and the Piles joined vvith Braces; […]

With a warding file cut a dovetail on each of the ends to be joined, as shown by Fig. 1.

After marking out the pins on the drawer sides, we proceed with the next operation, that is, sawing the dovetails ready for chopping out the waste material.

DOVETAIL joints, well known for their strength, have long been used in fine cabinet work. Nowadays they are frequently displaced by other types of joints that are easier to make with power tools, but where a self-locking joint is needed for use without glue, the dovetail is unsurpassed.

I ſhall add other tvvo Forms of Lines, […] The firſt of theſe tvvo is termed Patee, or Dove-Tail, from a Form of Art uſed by Joiners, vvho make Joints one into the other by that Name: […]

ASSEMBLEE, [in Heraldry,] a Dovetail or more to hold the tvvo Parts of the Eſcutcheon together, vvhere the Partition Line is, being countercharged, is ſome of the Metal and ſome of the Colour of the Eſcutcheon.

The ninth is Quarterly per Pale dovetail, Ruby and Topaz; born by the Right Hon. Thomas Bromley, Lord Montfort, &c.

Word Forms

• dovetails
• dove-tail
• dufftail
• dovetailing
• dovetailed

Synonyms for dovetail

Related Words

When Should You Use Dovetail?

Use dovetail when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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