Joint

n. [Fr. joint, from joindre, p. p. joint; Pr. junta, junta, Sp. & Pg. junta, It. giunta. See JOIN.]

1Sense 1. The place or part in which two things 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 the limbs of an animal, as the knee-joint; a joint in the stem of a plant, as of grass, cane, or the like.

2Sense 2. A joining of two things so as to admit of motion.

A scaly gauntlet now, with joints of steel, Must glove this hand. Shak.

3Sense 3. The part or space included between two joints, knots, or articulations; as, a joint of cane or of a grass-stem; a joint of meat.

4Sense 4. (Geol.) One of a system of regular and extensive cracks or seams transverse to the stratification. Dana.

5Sense 5. (Railways.) The place where the ends of two rails abut, or the splice that fastens them.

Joint-chair, the chair that supports two adjacent rail ends.—Joint fastening, any contrivance that holds two adjacent rail ends together, or at the same level.—Out of joint, out of place, as when the head of a bone slips from its socket; disordered; confused.—Universal joint. See UNIVERSAL.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. JOINTED; p. pr. & vb. n. JOINTING.] 1. To unite by a joint or joints; to prepare so as to fit closely; to fit together; to fit or furnish with a straight or even surface; as, to joint boards; hence, to unite closely; to join. “Pierced through the yielding planks of jointed wood.” Pope. The times Made friends of them, jointing their force 'gainst Cæsar. Shak. 2. To provide with a joint or joints; to articulate. The fingers are jointed together for motion. Ray. 3. To separate the joints of; to divide; to cut up, as meat; to disjoint. He joints the neck, and with a stroke so strong The helm flies off, and bears the head along. Dryden.

v. i. To fit perfectly; to coalesce as joints do; as, the stones joint into each other exactly.