Definition

Noun: 1. A wooden peg or dowel: A cylindrical pin, typically made of wood, used to fasten or secure two pieces of material together. 2. A shipbuilding fastener: Specifically, a wooden peg used to fasten timbers in traditional shipbuilding or wooden construction. When exposed to water, the peg swells, creating an extremely tight and secure hold.

Usage

• The term is a technical one, primarily used in the contexts of traditional woodworking, shipbuilding, and historical timber framing.
• It describes the object itself (the peg) and its specific function (fastening through swelling).

Examples

• The shipwright drove a trunnel through the planks to secure them to the frame.
• Traditional timber frames were often joined using trunnels instead of metal nails.
• After the boat was launched, the water caused the trunnels to swell, making the hull watertight.

Advanced Usage

• The word is sometimes spelled "treenail", which is etymologically closer to its origin ("tree" + "nail").
• The swelling action of a trunnel is a key functional principle, making it a superior fastener to metal in certain wet conditions, as it tightens rather than corrodes.

Variants and Related Words

• Treenail (noun): An alternative spelling for "trunnel".
• Dowel (noun): A general term for a pin of wood, metal, or plastic used for fastening or alignment. A trunnel is a specific type of dowel.
• Peg (noun): A broader term for a small cylindrical or tapered pin used to fasten parts or hang objects.

Synonyms

• Peg
• Dowel
• Pin
• Treenail

Antonyms

• There are no direct antonyms, but different fastening methods include: bolt, screw, nail, rivet.

Notes

• "Trunnel" is a specialized, somewhat archaic term. In modern general woodworking, "dowel" is far more common. "Trunnel" is retained in historical, maritime, and traditional timber framing contexts.

Noun

1. a wooden peg that is used to fasten timbers in shipbuilding; water causes the peg to swell and hold the timbers fast