dowel
DOW-ul
/ˈdaʊəl/
A cylindrical wooden rod or pin used to align and join two adjacent pieces of timber.
Unlike nails or screws, dowels rely on glue and mechanical friction across pre-drilled round holes.
The story behind the word. Originating from Middle Low German dovel ('plug or peg'), dowels have been used by shipbuilders and cabinetmakers for centuries as rust-free structural fasteners.
Word relationships
- peg: 'Peg' is a broad term for any tapered or simple pin; 'dowel' refers specifically to a uniform cylindrical rod.
- pin: 'Pin' can be made of wire or metal, whereas 'dowel' almost universally implies a solid wood rod in carpentry.
Commonly confused with
- towel: A towel absorbs water; a dowel joins wood pieces.
Word family
- doweling (noun): Cylindrical wooden stock used for making dowel pins.
Collocations
- wooden dowel
- dowel joint
- dowel pin
- dowel jig
Example sentences
- "Insert the wooden dowel into the drilled side hole before tightening the metal cam fastener." Flat-Pack Furniture
- "Oak dowels were driven into the mortise-and-tenon joints to lock the timber frame permanently into place." Structural Carpentry
Memory hook
DOWEL pins DRILL down smoothly into pre-drilled round holes. DOWEL = Drilled Opening Wooden External Lock.
When not to use
Do not use to describe flat wooden ribbons, wedges, or square tenons.
Fun facts
- Modern dowels often feature fluted spiral grooves cut along their sides to allow air and glue to escape during insertion.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.