: a channel, groove, or recess cut out of the edge or face of a surface
especially
: one intended to receive another member (such as a panel)
rabbeted; rabbeting; rabbets
: to become joined by a rabbet
Examples of rabbet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
House Beautiful, 6 May 2023
Spread glue on the end rabbets, and clamp the pieces together.
—Paul Steiner, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023
David Kaleko, Popular Science, 27 Jan. 2020
Crosscut the lid to 12 inches to remove any roughness on the ends created by rabbeting.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 31 Aug. 2018
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Noun
Historically, shiplap was used in the maritime industry to waterproof ships and keep them afloat due to the rabbet (grooves) cut in the top and bottom of the wood panels.
—House Beautiful, 6 May 2023
Spread glue on the end rabbets, and clamp the pieces together.
—Paul Steiner, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023
Verb
Start by cutting the dados and rabbets slightly too narrow and testing the fit.
—David Kaleko, Popular Science, 27 Jan. 2020
Crosscut the lid to 12 inches to remove any roughness on the ends created by rabbeting.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 31 Aug. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Rabbet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabbet. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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