What does miter mean?
A miter is a tall, pointed ceremonial hat worn by bishops and certain other senior Christian clergy. It is often made from rich fabric and decorated with embroidery, jewels, or insignia. The word also has a technical meaning in woodworking and metalworking: a miter is an angled joint where two pieces meet to form a corner, as in a picture frame. In American English, the spelling is miter; British English commonly uses mitre. The term can also be used as a verb, as in to miter a frame, meaning to cut or join pieces so that they meet at an angle. The word comes through Old French from Latin mitra, itself borrowed from Greek, where it referred to a headband or turban before becoming associated with bishops’ ceremonial headwear.
A tall, pointed ceremonial headdress worn by bishops and certain other senior Christian clergy; also, an angled joint between two pieces of wood or metal.
"The old oak frame had a carefully cut miter at each corner."
In the woodworking sense, the spelling miter is especially common in American English.
To cut or join two pieces of wood or metal with an angled miter joint.
"He mitered the corners of the cabinet frame."
This is primarily a technical woodworking and metalworking term.
The standard American plural is miters; mitres is the usual British plural.
"The collection included several ornate miters."
A bishop's miter is a ceremonial hat with a pointed, often jewel-encrusted shape that symbolizes the office and dignity of its wearer.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does miter come from?
The word entered English from Old French mitre, which continued Latin mitra. Latin mitra was borrowed from Greek mitra, a term for a headband, turban, or similar head covering. Through ecclesiastical usage, the word developed its familiar sense of a bishop’s ceremonial headdress and was also adopted in woodworking for an angled corner joint.
Related word forms
How miter is actually used
The spelling miter is standard in American English, while mitre is the usual British spelling. In woodworking, miter is common in North America; mitre is also used in British English.
Easily confused with miter
A miter is a ceremonial clerical hat or an angled construction joint, whereas a mitten is a glove covering the hand with a separate compartment for the thumb.