I. ˈdəv-ˌtāl noun
Date: 1573
: something resembling a dove's tail ; especially : a flaring tenon and a mortise into which it fits tightly making an interlocking joint between two pieces (as of wood)
[
dovetail: 1 mortises, 2 tenons, 3 joint
]
II. verb
Date: circa 1656
transitive verb
1.
a. : to join by means of dovetails
b. : to cut to a dovetail
2.
a. : to fit skillfully to form a whole
b. : to fit together with
intransitive verb
: to fit together into a whole