地じ獄ごくほぞ

noun

foxtail wedged tenon joint; blind tenon with wedges

A traditional Japanese woodworking joint where a tenon is inserted into a mortise and then wedges are driven into slots at the tenon's end, locking it tightly. The name 地獄 (hell) suggests the joint is nearly impossible to disassemble.

• この建たて具ぐには地じ獄ごくほぞが使つかわれていて、外はずれにくくなっている。

  This fitting uses a foxtail wedged tenon joint, making it hard to come apart.

• 地じ獄ごくほぞは、楔くさびを打うち込こむことで強きょう固こに固こ定ていされる継つぎ手てだ。

  The foxtail wedged tenon is a joint that is firmly fixed by driving in wedges.