Tsugite
/tsɯ̥ˈɡi.teɪ/noun
A traditional Japanese woodworking joint made by fitting or interlocking pieces of timber without relying primarily on nails or screws.
Did you know?In Japanese, tsugite is built from tsugu, “to join or splice,” plus te, “hand,” reflecting the hand-crafted act of joining pieces together.
Etymological Timeline
Old Japanese
Japanese
tsugu
“To join, splice, connect, or continue one thing with another”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
tsugite
“A joining piece or connection, formed from tsugu, “to join,” and te, “hand””
Edo Period
Japanese
継手 (tsugite)
“A woodworking joint or splice used to connect structural timber”
20th Century
Japanese
tsugite
“A specialized traditional Japanese timber joint, including scarf and interlocking forms”
Modern English
English
tsugite
“A Japanese woodworking joint or joinery technique, used especially in discussions of traditional carpentry”