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rabbet

rabbet


rab·bet    Audio Help   (rāb'ĭt)   

n.  

  1. A cut or groove along or near the edge of a piece of wood that allows another piece to fit into it to form a joint.

  2. A joint so made.

v.   rab·bet·ed also re·bat·ed, rab·bet·ing also re·bat·ing, rab·bets also re·bates

v.   tr.

  1. To cut a rabbet in.

  2. To join by a rabbet.

v.   intr.
To be joined by a rabbet.

[Middle English rabet, from Old French rabat, recess in a wall, act of beating down, from rabattre, to beat down again; see rebate1.]
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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