Rabbet notch
Rabbet notches are small recessed grooves or channel which are cut along the edge of a piece of wood, leaving a tongue ,to allowing second to piece to overlap creating a clean and stable corner. The rabbot cut is described as having one shoulder and one bottom, the shoulder being the shorter edge and the botton being the longer edge, they are commonly used in joinery and furniture, such as drawers.
Some of the earliest chests of drawers, from around the 1600s, were made from thick, heavy hardwood boards, initially these were just butt jointed at the edges, that is not say a square cut and nailed or peggged from the side. The introduction of a groove at the edge or rabbet helped to strengthen these initially crude joints, creating a better connection and alignment, especially important for the drawers. Rabbits can be cut either with the wood grain or perpendicular to it but they are always at the very edge.
The dado notch on the other hand is always stepped in from the edge of the board, and cut at right angles to the grain of the wood, housing the end of another piece, that is either square cut or with a rabbit cut, for example to create a shelving system. In the case of the use ofg a rabbit cut on the second piece the shoulder of the rabbit gives greater rigidity to the joint. Although the term groove is used quite generically today, a groove describes a cut anywhere in the centre of the wood in the same direction as the wood grain.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Assembly.
- Building complex.
- Building element.
- Building entities.
- Building spaces.
- Building system.
- Component.
- Concrete joint.
- Connection.
- Construction joint.
- Contraction joint.
- Crack control joint.
- Daywork joint.
- Dowelled joint.
- Expansion joint.
- Finger joint.
- Joggle joint.
- Joint v connection.
- Junction.
- Mortar joint.
- Mortise and tenon joint.
- Movement joint.
- Off-site prefabrication of buildings: A guide to connection choices.
- Road joints.
- Rub joint.
- Scarf joint.
- Shrinkage joint.
- Tongue and groove joint.
- Warping joint.
Featured articles and news
ECA support for Gate Safe’s Safe School Gates Campaign.
Core construction skills explained
Preparing for a career in construction.
Retrofitting for resilience with the Leicester Resilience Hub
Community-serving facilities, enhanced as support and essential services for climate-related disruptions.
Some of the articles relating to water, here to browse. Any missing?
Recognisable Gothic characters, designed to dramatically spout water away from buildings.
A case study and a warning to would-be developers
Creating four dwellings... after half a century of doing this job, why, oh why, is it so difficult?
Reform of the fire engineering profession
Fire Engineers Advisory Panel: Authoritative Statement, reactions and next steps.
Restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster
A complex project of cultural significance from full decant to EMI, opportunities and a potential a way forward.
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.