join

n. [ F. joint, fr. joindre, p. p. joint. See Join. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The place or part where two things or parts are joined or united; the union of two or more smooth or even surfaces admitting of a close-fitting or junction; junction; as, a joint between two pieces of timber; a joint in a pipe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A joining of two things or parts so as to admit of motion; an articulation, whether movable or not; a hinge; as, the knee joint; a node or joint of a stem; a ball and socket joint. See Articulation. [ 1913 Webster ]

A scaly gauntlet now, with joints of steel,
Must glove this hand. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To tear thee joint by joint. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The part or space included between two joints, knots, nodes, or articulations; as, a joint of cane or of a grass stem; a joint of the leg. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any one of the large pieces of meat, as cut into portions by the butcher for roasting. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Geol.) A plane of fracture, or divisional plane, of a rock transverse to the stratification. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Arch.) The space between the adjacent surfaces of two bodies joined and held together, as by means of cement, mortar, etc.; as, a thin joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. The means whereby the meeting surfaces of pieces in a structure are secured together. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. [ Jag a notch. ] A projecting or retreating part in something; any irregularity of line or surface, as in a wall. [ Now Chiefly U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

9. (Theaters) A narrow piece of scenery used to join together two flats or wings of an interior setting. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

10. a disreputable establishment, or a place of low resort, as for smoking opium; -- also used for a commercial establishment, implying a less than impeccable reputation, but often in jest; as, talking about a high-class joint is an oxymoron. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

11. a marijuana cigarette. [ Slang ] [ PJC ]

12. prison; -- used with “the”. [ Slang ] “ he spent five years in the joint.” [ PJC ]

Coursing joint (Masonry), the mortar joint between two courses of bricks or stones. --
Fish joint,
Miter joint,
Universal joint, etc. See under Fish, Miter, etc. --
Joint bolt, a bolt for fastening two pieces, as of wood, one endwise to the other, having a nut embedded in one of the pieces. --
Joint chair (Railroad), the chair that supports the ends of abutting rails. --
Joint coupling, a universal joint for coupling shafting. See under Universal. --
Joint hinge, a hinge having long leaves; a strap hinge. --
Joint splice, a reënforce at a joint, to sustain the parts in their true relation. --
Joint stool. (a) A stool consisting of jointed parts; a folding stool. Shak. (b) A block for supporting the end of a piece at a joint; a joint chair. --
Out of joint, out of place; dislocated, as when the head of a bone slips from its socket; hence, not working well together; disordered. “The time is out of joint.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]