Miter square

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.
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   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