from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Miter \Mi"ter\, Mitre \Mi"tre\, n. [F. mitre, fr. L. mitra
headband, turban, Gr. ?.]
1. A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions by
bishops and other church dignitaries. It has been made in
many forms, the present form being a lofty cap with two
points or peaks. --Fairholt.
[1913 Webster]
2. The surface forming the beveled end or edge of a piece
where a miter joint is made; also, a joint formed or a
junction effected by two beveled ends or edges; a miter
joint.
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3. (Numis.) A sort of base money or coin.
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{Miter box} (Carp. & Print.), an apparatus for guiding a
handsaw at the proper angle in making a miter joint; esp.,
a wooden or metal trough with vertical kerfs in its
upright sides, for guides.
{Miter dovetail} (Carp.), a kind of dovetail for a miter
joint in which there is only one joint line visible, and
that at the angle.
{Miter gauge} (Carp.), a gauge for determining the angle of a
miter.
{Miter joint}, a joint formed by pieces matched and united
upon a line bisecting the angle of junction, as by the
beveled ends of two pieces of molding or brass rule, etc.
The term is used especially when the pieces form a right
angle, such as the edges of a window frame, and the edge
of each piece at the point of junction is cut at a 45[deg]
angle to its long direction. See {Miter}, 2.
{Miter shell} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of marine
univalve shells of the genus {Mitra}.
{Miter square} (Carp.), a bevel with an immovable arm at an
angle of 45[deg], for striking lines on stuff to be
mitered; also, a square with an arm adjustable to any
angle.
{Miter wheels}, a pair of bevel gears, of equal diameter,
adapted for working together, usually with their axes at
right angles.
[1913 Webster] Miter