Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Joint \Joint\ (joint), n. [F. joint, fr. joindre, p. p. joint.
   See {Join}.]
   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}.

            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. (Geol.) A plane of fracture, or divisional plane, of a
      rock transverse to the stratification.

   6. (Arch.) The space between the adjacent surfaces of two
      bodies joined and held together, as by means of cement,
      mortar, etc.; as, a thin joint.

   7. The means whereby the meeting surfaces of pieces in a
      structure are secured together.

   {Coursing joint} (Masonry), the mortar joint between two
      courses of bricks or stones.

   {Fish joint}, {Miter joint}, {Universal joint}, etc. 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} (Railroad), 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 re["e]nforce at a joint, to sustain the
      parts in their true relation.

   {Joint stool}.
      (a) A stool consisting of jointed parts; a folding stool.
          --Shak.
      (b) A block for supporting the end of a piece at a joint;
          a joint chair.

   {Out of joint}, out of place; dislocated, as when the head of
      a bone slips from its socket; hence, not working well
      together; disordered. ``The time is out of joint.''
      --Shak.

Miter \Mi"ter\, Mitre \Mi"tre\, n. [F. mitre, fr. L. mitra
   headband, turban, Gr. ?.]
   1. A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions by
      church dignitaries. It has been made in many forms, the
      present form being a lofty cap with two points or peaks.
      --Fairholt.

   2. The surface forming the beveled end or edge of a piece
      where a miter joint is made; also, a joint formed or a
      junction effected by two beveled ends or edges; a miter
      joint.

   3. (Numis.) A sort of base money or coin.

   {Miter box} (Carp. & Print.), an apparatus for guiding a
      handsaw at the proper angle in making a miter joint; esp.,
      a wooden or metal trough with vertical kerfs in its
      upright sides, for guides.

   {Miter dovetail} (Carp.), a kind of dovetail for a miter
      joint in which there is only one joint line visible, and
      that at the angle.

   {Miter gauge} (Carp.), a gauge for determining the angle of a
      miter.

   {Miter joint}, a joint formed by pieces matched and united
      upon a line bisecting the angle of junction, as by the
      beveled ends of two pieces of molding or brass rule, etc.
      The term is used especially when the pieces form a right
      angle. See {Miter}, 2.

   {Miter shell} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of
      marine univalve shells of the genus {Mitra}.

   {Miter square} (Carp.), a bevel with an immovable arm at an
      angle of 45[deg], for striking lines on stuff to be
      mitered; also, a square with an arm adjustable to any
      angle.

   {Miter wheels}, a pair of bevel gears, of equal diameter,
      adapted for working together, usually with their axes at
      right angles.

Source : WordNet®

miter joint
     n : joint that forms a corner; usually both sides are bevelled
         at a 45-degree angle to form a 90-degree corner [syn: {mitre
         joint}, {miter}, {mitre}]