Carpentry Terms

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Instructions: Put your woodworking knowledge to the test with this quiz about carpentry and joinery vocabulary.

1.
What is a 'mortise and tenon' joint?
A
A type of nail
B
Two boards glued side by side
C
A joint where a projection on one piece fits into a cavity in another
D
A metal bracket connection
2.
What does 'kerf' refer to in carpentry?
A
The handle of a tool
B
A type of wood grain
C
The width of a cut made by a saw blade
D
A decorative wood carving
3.
What is a 'dado' in woodworking?
A
A clamp for holding wood
B
A decorative finial
C
A type of sandpaper
D
A flat-bottomed groove cut across the grain of wood
4.
What does 'chamfer' mean?
A
To cut a symmetrical bevel at a 45-degree angle on an edge or corner
B
To split wood along the grain
C
To drill a pilot hole
D
To sand a surface smooth
5.
What is a 'joist' in construction?
A
A vertical support beam
B
A horizontal structural member that supports a floor or ceiling
C
A wooden peg used in framing
D
A type of roof shingle
6.
What does 'plumb' mean in carpentry?
A
Perfectly vertical or true
B
A type of wood finish
C
Related to plumbing pipes
D
To measure the length of a board
7.
What is a 'rabbet' joint?
A
A joint shaped like an animal
B
A rounded joint for furniture legs
C
A joint reinforced with metal
D
A step-shaped recess cut along the edge of a piece of wood
8.
What does 'board foot' measure?
A
The weight of wood
B
A unit of lumber volume equal to 144 cubic inches
C
The length of a board
D
The width of a plank
9.
What is 'tongue and groove'?
A
A joint where a ridge on one board fits into a slot on another for a tight connection
B
A type of saw blade
C
A staining technique
D
A method of hand-carving
10.
What is a 'miter joint'?
A
A round joint for table legs
B
A joint made with screws
C
A joint that uses wooden dowels
D
A joint where two pieces meet at an angle, typically 45 degrees each to form a 90-degree corner
11.
What does 'rip cut' mean?
A
A type of rough-sawn lumber
B
A damaged saw blade
C
A torn piece of wood
D
A cut made along the length of the wood grain
12.
What is a 'stud' in framing?
A
A decorative nail head
B
A metal bolt
C
A vertical wood member in a wall frame, typically spaced 16 inches apart
D
A type of wood adhesive
13.
What does 'shim' mean in carpentry?
A
To remove bark from a log
B
To apply a coat of varnish
C
A thin wedge of material used to fill gaps or make something level
D
To cut wood at an angle
14.
What is a 'dovetail' joint?
A
A simple butt joint
B
A joint shaped like a bird's tail
C
A joint held together with wire
D
An interlocking joint with fan-shaped projections, prized for its strength and beauty
15.
What does 'warp' refer to in woodworking?
A
A type of wood preservative
B
The pattern of wood grain
C
A distortion in wood where it twists, bows, or cups due to moisture changes
D
A fast way to cut wood

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