A
Core: The inner part of a composite panel, often made of particleboard or blockboard, covered with veneer or laminate.
B
Grain wood: Wood in the direction of the fibers, producing a regular appearance with parallel veins.
Tongue and groove joint: A tongue and groove joint used to join two pieces edge to edge. Widely used for panels and parquet.
C
Edge: The narrow side of a board or panel, visible on the edge. It can be veneered, curved, or molded.
Backing: The back face of a piece, opposite to the visible face or front.
D
Edging: The operation of sawing lengthwise to bring a board to the desired width.
E
Housing joint: A shallow notch in a piece intended to receive another piece flush, ensuring precise positioning.
F
Rabbet: An L-shaped profile or molding carved into the edge or face of a piece, used to receive a panel, glazing, or another recessed piece.
M
Marquetry: A technique of assembling veneer sheets of different species, shades, or materials to form a pattern adorning a piece of furniture.
Mortise: A cavity carved into a piece of wood intended to receive a tenon. The mortise and tenon joint is one of the strongest and most traditional in cabinetmaking.
P
Veneer: A very thin (0.3 to 2 mm) sliced or sawn wood sheet glued onto a core. It allows obtaining large surfaces in noble wood at a lower cost.
Q
Quarter round: A convex quarter-circle molding, used for corner or joint finishing. One of the most classic furniture moldings.
R
Shrinkage: The movement of wood related to humidity variations: it swells by absorbing water and shrinks by drying. All construction must take this into account.
T
Rail: A horizontal piece connecting two uprights in a frame (door, drawer front), forming a frame.