dowel

noun

1. A pin, or block, of wood or metal, fitting into holes in the abutting portions of two pieces, and being partly in one piece and partly in the other, to keep them in their proper relative position.
2. A wooden rod, as one to make short pins from.

   “This twenty-four-piece starter set uses twelve thirty-six-inch-long dowels (or nine forty-eight-inch dowels) cut to these rod lengths. Lay out the cuts so you use the entire length of each dowel without any leftover scraps.”

3. A piece of wood or similar material fitted into a surface not suitable for fastening so that other pieces may be fastened to it.

verb

1. (transitive)To fasten together with dowels.

   “The wheels were solid, two half discs dowelled against the hub, and the chariots were pulled along by oxen or asses.”

2. (transitive)To furnish with dowels.

   “A cooper dowels pieces for the head of a cask.”