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n. 1. A cut or groove along or near the edge of a piece of wood that allows another piece to fit into it to form a joint. 2. A joint so made. v. rab·bet·ed, rab·bet·ing, rab·bets also re·bat·ed or re·bat·ing or re·bates v.tr. 1. To cut a rabbet in. 2. To join by a rabbet. v.intr. To be joined by a rabbet. [Middle English rabet, from Old French rabat, recess in a wall, act of beating down, from rabattre, to beat down again; see REBATE1.]  (click for a larger image) rabbet |
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