Joint — Defs

01 n. 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-fit…

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.
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. See: Articulation
“A scaly gauntlet now, with joints of steel, Must glove this hand.” — Shak.

“To tear thee joint by joint.” — Milton.
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.
4.
Any one of the large pieces of meat, as cut into portions by the butcher for roasting.
5.
A plane of fracture, or divisional plane, of a rock transverse to the stratification.(Geol.)
6.
The space between the adjacent surfaces of two bodies joined and held together, as by means of cement, mortar, etc.; as, a thin joint.(Arch.)
7.
The means whereby the meeting surfaces of pieces in a structure are secured together.
8.
A projecting or retreating part in something; any irregularity of line or surface, as in a wall.[Now Chiefly U. S.]
9.
A narrow piece of scenery used to join together two flats or wings of an interior setting.(Theaters)
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]
11.
a marijuana cigarette.[Slang]
12.
prison; -- used with “the”.[Slang]

Phrases & compounds

Coursing joint — the mortar joint between two courses of bricks or stones.

Fish joint — 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 — 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 stool consisting of jointed parts; a folding stool.

Out of joint — out of place; dislocated, as when the head of a bone slips from its socket; hence, not working well together; disordered.

02 a. Joined; united; combined; concerted; as, joint action.

1.
Joined; united; combined; concerted; as, joint action.
2.
Involving the united activity of two or more; done or produced by two or more working together.
“I read this joint effusion twice over.” — T. Hook.
3.
United, joined, or sharing with another or with others; not solitary in interest or action; holding in common with an associate, or with associates; acting together; as, joint heir; joint creditor; a joint bank account; joint debtor, etc.
4.
Shared by, or affecting two or more; held in common; as, joint property; a joint bond.
“A joint burden laid upon us all.” — Shak.

Phrases & compounds

Joint committee — a committee composed of members of the two houses of a legislative body, for the appointment of which concurrent resolutions of the two houses are necessary.

Joint meeting — the meeting or session of two distinct bodies as one; as, a joint meeting of committees representing different corporations; a joint session of both branches of a State legislature to chose a United States senator.

Joint resolution — a resolution adopted concurrently by the two branches of a legislative body.

Joint rule — a rule of proceeding adopted by the concurrent action of both branches of a legislative assembly.

Joint and several — a phrase signifying that the debt, credit, obligation, etc., to which it is applied is held in such a way that the parties in interest are engaged both together and individually thus a joint and several debt is one for which all the debtors may be sued together or either of them individually; used especially in the phrase joint and several liability.

Joint stock — stock held in company.

Joint-stock company — a species of partnership, consisting generally of a large number of members, having a capital divided, or agreed to be divided, into shares, the shares owned by any member being usually transferable without the consent of the rest.

Joint tenancy — a tenure by two or more persons of estate by unity of interest, title, time, and possession, under which the survivor takes the whole.

Joint tenant — one who holds an estate by joint tenancy. Contrassted with tenant in common.

03 v. t. To unite by a joint or joints; to fit together; to prepare so as to fit together; as, to joint boards.

imp. & p. p. Jointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Jointing

1.
To unite by a joint or joints; to fit together; to prepare so as to fit together; as, to joint boards.
“Pierced through the yielding planks of jointed wood.” — Pope.
2.
To join; to connect; to unite; to combine.
“Jointing their force 'gainst Caesar.” — Shak.
3.
To provide with a joint or joints; to articulate.
“The fingers are jointed together for motion.” — Ray.
4.
To separate the joints; of; to divide at the joint or joints; to disjoint; to cut up into joints, as meat.
“Quartering, jointing, seething, and roasting.” — Holland.

04 v. i. To fit as if by joints; to coalesce as joints do; as, the stones joint, neatly.

1.
To fit as if by joints; to coalesce as joints do; as, the stones joint, neatly.