chamfer

American  

[cham-fer] / ˈtʃæm fər /

noun

1. a cut that is made in wood or some other material, usually at a 45° angle to the adjacent principal faces.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a chamfer on or in.

chamfer British  

/ ˈtʃæmfə /

noun

1. a narrow flat surface at the corner of a beam, post, etc, esp one at an angle of 45° Compare bevel

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verb

1. to cut such a surface on (a beam, etc)

2. another word for chase 2

Other Word Forms

• chamferer noun
• unchamfered adjective

Etymology

Origin of chamfer

1595–1605; back formation from chamfering (taken as chamfer + -ing ¹ ) < Middle French chamfrein, variant of chanfreint beveled edge, originally past participle of chanfraindre to bevel, equivalent to chant edge (< Latin canthus; cant ² ) + fraindre to break < Latin frangere; frangible

Example Sentences

“Like the chamfer of the instrument or the edges of it. And you would think ‘What do I like about this and why do I like it more than that one?’

From Washington Times • Mar. 22, 2020

The overall sole width is 3 mm wider, but effective sole width is 1 millimeter wider due to a rear sole chamfer.

From Golf Digest • Jan. 10, 2020

Finally, a chamfer on the topline provides a more traditional look.

From Golf Digest • Mar. 26, 2019

Used on a regular drill, a chamfer routing bit creates a uniform beveled edge.

From Time Magazine Archive

LIV., which is the favorite chamfer at Bourges and Bayeux, and in other good French work.

From The Stones of Venice, Volume I (of 3) by Ruskin, John