Kanji 枘 the handle of tools, tenon, cog Related words 蟻あり 継つ ぎ 蟻継ぎ refers to the dovetail joint as a whole, while 蟻枘 specifically denotes the tenon part.
ほぞ ほぞ is a general term for a tenon; 蟻枘 is a specific type with a dovetail shape.
Written forms 蟻あり 枘ほぞ
Standard kanji spelling for this woodworking term.
蟻あり ほぞ
Mixed kanji-kana spelling, common in practical contexts.
蟻あり ホゾ
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling, sometimes used in technical writing.
Etymology Compound of 蟻 (ari, 'ant') and 枘 (hozo, 'tenon'), from the resemblance of the tenon's shape to an ant's body.
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