What is the Latin word for dove-tail?

The usual Latin words for “dove-tail” are secūricula, subscūs. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“dove-tail” in Latin

secūriculalittle axe; a component of a certain kind of cramping looking like an axe, called in Ancient Greek πελεκῖνος (pelekînos)subscūsa type of cramping similar to a dovetail consisting of two secūriculīs

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

dove-tail

securicula (πελεκυνωτόν, PROP.,” little hatchet,” in carpentry, a dοve-tail; Vitr. 10, 17, etc.): subscus (an iron that cramped two pieces of wood dove-tailed into each other). (The words are found in this connection and order.) subscudes et securiculae (Vitr., 4, 7, of several).

dove-tail v.

*securicula compingere or *subscude et securicula compingere (of several pieces, or generally, compingere subscudibus et securiculis, Vitr. 4, 7, in past participle). Dove-tailed, securiculatus (Vitr. 10, 15, cardines): compactus subscudibus et securiculis (of several; Vitr. 4, 7).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for dove-tail?: The usual Latin words for “dove-tail” are secūricula, subscūs. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.