tenon

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: ten=on

CIDE DICTIONARY

tenon, n. [F., fr. tenir to hold. See Tenable.].

 A projecting member left by cutting away the wood around it, and made to insert into a mortise, and in this way secure together the parts of a frame; especially, such a member when it passes entirely through the thickness of the piece in which the mortise is cut, and shows on the other side. Cf. Tooth, Tusk.  [1913 Webster]

Tenon saw, a saw with a thin blade, usually stiffened by a brass or steel back, for cutting tenons. [Corruptly written tenant saw.] Gwilt.

tenon, v. t. 

 To cut or fit for insertion into a mortise, as the end of a piece of timber.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tenon, n. & v.
--n. a projecting piece of wood made for insertion into a corresponding cavity (esp. a mortise) in another piece.
--v.tr.
1 cut as a tenon.
2 join by means of a tenon.

Idiom

tenon-saw a small saw with a strong brass or steel back for fine work.

Derivative

tenoner n.

Etymology

ME f. F f. tenir hold f. L tenere