Dowel

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdaÊŠÉ™l/
• Rhymes: -aÊŠÉ™l

Alternative forms

• doul obsolete

Origin

From Middle English dule, of uncertain origin. Compare French douelle, douille, from Middle French douille, from Old French doelle ("the hollow part of a tool where the handle is fixed"), from Old Frankish *dulja ("hollow tube, pipe"), from Proto-Germanic *dulją ("pipe"), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰel- ("curvature, hollow"). Alternate etymology derives Middle English dule, from Middle Low German dovel ("plug, tap"), related to German Döbel ("chub").

Full definition of dowel

Noun

1. A pin, or block, of wood or metal, fitting into holes in the abutting portions of two pieces, and being partly in one piece and partly in the other, to keep them in their proper relative position.
2. A wooden rod, as one to make short pins from.
• 2006, Steven Caney, Lauren House, Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book, This twenty-four-piece starter set uses twelve thirty-six-inch-long dowels (or nine forty-eight-inch dowels) cut to these rod lengths. Lay out the cuts so you use the entire length of each dowel without any leftover scraps.
3. (construction) A piece of wood or similar material fitted into a surface not suitable for fastening so that other pieces may fastened to it.

Coordinate terms

• (pin or block of wood or metal) spline, biscuit, tenon
• (construction) anchor, screw anchor US; wall plug UK.

Verb

1. (transitive) To fasten together with dowels.
2. (transitive) To furnish with dowels.A cooper dowels pieces for the head of a cask.

Anagrams

• lowed