What does notching mean?
Notching is the practice of making a small cut, groove, or indentation in the edge of a material. It may be used to mark an object, create a place for another part to fit, or help a component resist slipping or pulling away. Woodworkers often notch timber before joining it, while metalworkers may notch an edge for positioning or attachment. As a noun, notching can refer either to the process as a whole or, less commonly, to the cuts or recesses that result. The related count noun notch is more usual when speaking of an individual cut. Notching should not be confused with ordinary surface marking, since it generally involves removing material or forming a deliberate recess. The term is especially common in woodworking and metalworking but is also used in construction, tree work, manufacturing, and other technical settings. Although notching is straightforward, it can be an important step in making a joint secure, stable, and correctly aligned.
A small cut, indentation, or recess in an edge or surface; also, the process of making such cuts.
"The notching of the joint helps the two pieces lock together."
The process is normally treated as uncountable; plural forms are uncommon.
To make one or more small cuts or recesses in an edge or surface, especially for marking, fitting, joining, or securing.
"She notched the dowel so that it would fit inside the mortise."
Usually transitive, though it may also occur in participial forms such as a notched edge.
Usually uncountable when referring to the process. The plural is uncommon and is used for multiple distinct cuts or recesses.
"Small notchings were cut into the edge of the frame."
A notch is a small cut; repeated with precision, it becomes notching—one of woodworking's simplest ways to make a joint hold.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does notching come from?
Notching derives from the English noun and verb notch, which are recorded from Middle English. The precise ultimate origin of notch is uncertain, and etymologists have proposed several explanations that cannot be stated confidently. The modern related forms notched, notcher, and notchy developed within English from this Middle English base.
Related word forms
How notching is actually used
Notching is usually a specialist or technical term, but it is readily understood in woodworking, metalworking, construction, and similar crafts. It normally implies deliberate cuts or recesses rather than accidental damage. In general British and American English, the spelling and meaning are the same.