Birdmouthed

/ˈbɜrdmaʊðt/ adjective

Definition

Having a mouth or opening shaped like a bird's beak; characterized by a narrow, pointed opening or protrusion.

Etymology

Compound of 'bird' (Old English 'brid'), 'mouth' (Old English 'múð'), with adjectival suffix '-ed'. Technical term used in woodworking and construction to describe specific joint shapes.

Kelly Says

In carpentry, a 'birdmouth cut' is a notch that allows rafters to sit on walls—carpenters named it for the resemblance to a bird's open mouth, showing how technical terminology borrows from nature observation.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.