tenon
TEN-un
/ˈtenən/
A projecting tongue carved onto the end of a piece of wood for insertion into a corresponding mortise hole.
Refers exclusively to the male (projecting) element of a mortise-and-tenon joint.
The story behind the word. From Latin tenere through Old French tenon, the word literally translates to 'that which holds fast' inside a socket.
Word relationships
- tongue: 'Tongue' refers to a continuous wooden ridge along a board's edge; 'tenon' is a single targeted end projection.
- peg: 'Peg' is usually cylindrical and separate; 'tenon' is carved directly out of the main timber piece.
- mortise: The female cavity carved out to receive the tenon.
Commonly confused with
- tendon: A 'tendon' connects muscle to bone in biological bodies; a 'tenon' joins wood in carpentry.
Word family
- tenoned (adjective): Fitted or shaped with a tenon projection.
Collocations
- mortise and tenon
- tenon saw
- haunched tenon
- snug tenon
Example sentences
- "If the tenon is cut even a fraction of a millimeter too thin, the entire joint will wobble." Furniture Engineering
- "The woodworker sawed the shoulders of the tenon to ensure a flush, seamless fit against the post." Traditional Joinery
Memory hook
TENON has TEN fingers that hold fast in the mortise hole. TENON = Timber Extension Navigating Open Notch.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a cylindrical pin (dowel) or the socket into which it fits (mortise).
Fun facts
- Archaeologists found mortise and tenon joints in the wooden solar boat of Pharaoh Khufu, dating back over 4,500 years.
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