miter

{ } n. [ F. mitre, fr. L. mitra headband, turban, Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions by bishops and other church dignitaries. It has been made in many forms, the present form being a lofty cap with two points or peaks. Fairholt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The surface forming the beveled end or edge of a piece where a miter joint is made; also, a joint formed or a junction effected by two beveled ends or edges; a miter joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Numis.) A sort of base money or coin. [ 1913 Webster ]

Miter box (Carp. & Print.), an apparatus for guiding a handsaw at the proper angle in making a miter joint; esp., a wooden or metal trough with vertical kerfs in its upright sides, for guides. --
Miter dovetail (Carp.), a kind of dovetail for a miter joint in which there is only one joint line visible, and that at the angle. --
Miter gauge (Carp.), a gauge for determining the angle of a miter. --
Miter joint, a joint formed by pieces matched and united upon a line bisecting the angle of junction, as by the beveled ends of two pieces of molding or brass rule, etc. The term is used especially when the pieces form a right angle, such as the edges of a window frame, and the edge of each piece at the point of junction is cut at a 45° angle to its long direction. See Miter, 2. --
Miter shell (Zool.), any one of numerous species of marine univalve shells of the genus Mitra. --
Miter square (Carp.), a bevel with an immovable arm at an angle of 45°, for striking lines on stuff to be mitered; also, a square with an arm adjustable to any angle. --
Miter wheels, a pair of bevel gears, of equal diameter, adapted for working together, usually with their axes at right angles. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mitered r Mitred; p. pr. & vb. n. Mitering r Mitring. ] 1. To place a miter upon; to adorn with a miter. [ wns=2 ] “Mitered locks.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To match together, as two pieces of molding or brass rule on a line bisecting the angle of junction; to fit together in a miter joint. [ wns=3 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To bevel the ends or edges of, for the purpose of matching together at an angle. [ wns=1 ] [ 1913 Webster ]