Why is a dovetail called a dovetail ?

Re: Why is a dovetail called a dovetail ?

John McGaw

Not all doves have the same shape of tail. Yes, North American doves do all seem to have those long tails but in Europe, where the term dovetail probably originated, there are doves with shorter broader tails. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Just be glad we aren't using swallowtail joints -- those would be hell to cut.

Cause that's their name

Re: Why is a dovetail called a dovetail ?

John K Jordan

Maybe 'cause it's easier to say than "interlocking trapezoidal flaring mortise and tenon wood joint." And dove sounds more peaceful than hawk.

But maybe you could campaign to use more inclusive terminology out of sensitivity for of the hawks and turkeys and fish who may feel slighted. Although the last time I saw a fishtail on a snowy highway it ended badly. I think the guy was coming from a beer joint.

Re: Why is a dovetail called a dovetail ?

Joe shelton

John, "beer joint" is pejorative and insensitive. They are craft brew emporia.

Question for the linguisticly knowledgable

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

what are dovetails called in other languages?

Have you ever watched them come in for a landing?

Keith Newton

Or maybe making quick turns. they can flair those feathers then.

Re: Question for the linguisticly knowledgable

Steve Elliott

In German the term is Schwalbenschwanz, meaning swallow's tail.

"interlocking trapezoidal flaring mortise and teno

Yonak

John, OK, I looked up "interlocking trapezoidal flaring mortise and tenon wood joint" on Google and what it came up with were a straight mortise and tenon joints.

I left out "mortise and tenon" and looked up "interlocking trapezoidal flaring wood joint" and it came up with some sort of complicated 3-D frame construction.

I guess I'll stick with dovetail joint. It's so ubiquitous that when I typed "dove tail picture" to look up the picture of a dove's tail before I originally posted all I got was wood joints and business meanings that had usurped the term. I had to add "bird" to get good results.

Re: Question for the linguisticly knowledgable

Sgian Dubh

En Francais, (jointe en) queue d'aronde ... je pense. Slainte.

what did he say?

Re: what did he say?

Yonak

Bill, this is how I did it with Google. I can't vouch for everyone's specifics as my knowledge is certainly lacking in the Search process.

1. Highlight the word or phrase to be translated

2. Right click the highlight

3. Search Google

4. The Google search box will be populated with the phrase

5. Add the word "translate" to the Google search box

6. Hit Enter

There may or may not be an easier way but that worked for me. Sometimes the translation comes up automatically in Google.

Re: Question for the linguisticly knowledgable

Mark Nowicki

In Polish;

Jaskółczy ogon or jaskółki.

Swallow’s tail or swallows .

Re: what did he say?

Sgian Dubh

"En Francais, (jointe en) queue d'aronde ... je pense. Slainte."

Literally: In French, (attached in) dovetail ... I think. Cheers. (That last word translated from Scots Gaelic).

Note also: Perhaps interpreting the French en as with rather than in would be better.

I half apologise for using two languages there, er, well ... three now, ha, ha. Slainte.