Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Tack Time - The amount of time it takes for an adhesive to set-up before it can form a bond.

Tallboy - Called a chest-on-chest until the 18th century, this high chest of drawers has more drawers below than on top.

Tambour desk - Type of desk design introduced during the Louis XV period having a low secretary top with sliding door panels made of thin strips of wood.

Taper - A piece of wood that has been cut so that it is wider on one edge than the other.

Teakwood - Wood from Burma, Java, the East Indies, French Indochina, and has been planted successfully in the Philippines. A strong, tough wood it ranges in color from light tawny tallow to dark brown. Slightly oily.

Tearout - The tendency for a blade to splinter the last part of a piece of wood during crosscutting.

Tempered Hardboard - Dense fiberboard that has been specially treated to increase its durability, strength, density, and moisture resistance.

Tension Wood - Reaction wood that forms on the upper side of a leaning hardwood tree.

Tester - Wooden or fabric canopy which projects over the top of a four poster bed.

Through Dovetail Joint - A method of joining wood where the interlocking pins and tails of the dovetail joint go through the side of its mating piece.

Tigerwood - West African wood. Varies greatly in character and color from a dull grayish-brown walnut with black streaks to a bright satinwood gold. Ribbon stripes are pronounced as in a tiger's coat of fur.

Tilt top table - Table with whole top hinged to a pedestal base so that it can be tipped from a horizontal to a vertical position when not in use.

Toe Kick - An indentation designed into the bottom of a cabinet to provide room to allow the user to stand closer to the countertop.

Tongue and Groove - Straight or right -angled joint made by cutting a groove into one piece of wood into which fits the projecting groove from another. Used from the 19th century onwards.

Top rail - The uppermost horizontal rail on a chair back.

Torque - The amount of force that is needed to turn an object such as a screw or bolt.

Trestle Table - Table composed of a long, oblong board, originally supported by a trestle or saw horse, but now supported by posts and feet.

Trumeau - The decorative treatment of the space over a mantel, door, or window, consisting of a mirror or painting. Specifically the overmantel panel treatment of the Louis IV and Louis XVI periods.

Trumpet Leg - A conical leg turned with a flared end and shaped like a trumpet.

Tudor - Period of English furniture design during the reign of the House of Tudor 1485-1603. Essentially, Gothic in character, heavy, massive, and richly carved, with oak being the predominant wood. Such ornamentation as Tudor roses, strapwork, inlaying and caryatids were used.

Twist - Warping in lumber where the ends twist in opposite directions. (Like twisting a towel)