dovetail

/ˈdʌvteɪl/

//ˈdʌvteɪl// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"dovetail" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“dovetail” is uncommon English (frequency #57,349 among 3,470 “D” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#57,349
frequency rank, English
3,470
“D” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - The tail of a dove (family Columbidae); also, something having the shape of a dove's tail.

Corpus desk

Index EN-dovetail · dovetail · English

dovetail · rank #57,349 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #57,349
  • LEN-LONG 8 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-MID 3,470
  • PHOTO-FINISH Dougal

Nearest frequency peer: Dougal (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “dovetail”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “dovetail” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for dovetail
PropertyValue
Headworddovetail
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈdʌvteɪl/
Letters8
Frequency rank#57,349
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “dovetail” in English

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right).dovetailfalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “Dougal” (#57,348), “dramatization” (#57,350), “doldrums” (#57,346). Among 3,470 “D” headwords, “dovetail” is #57,349. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

dovetail is uncommon English at frequency #57,349 among 3,470 “D” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈdʌvteɪl/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for dovetail, and the word's spelling is regular enough that our generator found nothing worth flagging. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: The noun is derived from dove + tail. The verb is derived from the noun. The correct English form is dovetail, spelled D-O-V-E-T-A-I-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    The tail of a dove (family Columbidae); also, something having the shape of a dove's tail.
  2. 2
    In full dovetail joint: a type of joint where adjoining components are fastened by multiple tenons cut into wedge shapes resembling a dove's tail, which interlock with mortises having corresponding shapes.
  3. 3
    A tenon cut into a wedge shape resembling a dove's tail so that it interlocks with a mortise having a corresponding shape in a dovetail joint.
  4. 4
    A line resembling a dovetail joint (sense 2.1).

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how dovetail appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Beſides this, another fine Starfiſh came to my Hands, […] Its body hath ten corners, and it hath a Star above vvith as many Rays; each of theſe one may compare unto a Sail of the VVindmills that the Children run againſt the VVind vvithal, or to a piece of ſuch Croſſes that are broad before, and narrovv vvhere they meet together; that is to ſay, of the ſha…
  2. [T]heſe muſt be joined at Bottom to the Piles by a ſtrong Dove-tail, and the Piles joined vvith Braces; […]

Etymology

The noun is derived from dove + tail. The verb is derived from the noun.

This word in other languages

queue-d'aronde(Français)Schwalbenschwanz(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "dovetail"?
"dovetail" is spelled D-O-V-E-T-A-I-L. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈdʌvteɪl/.
What does "dovetail" mean?
As a noun, "dovetail" means: The tail of a dove (family Columbidae); also, something having the shape of a dove's tail.
How do you pronounce "dovetail"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "dovetail" is /ˈdʌvteɪl/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "dovetail"?
The noun is derived from dove + tail. The verb is derived from the noun. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "dovetail", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 8 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

doldrums#57,346disclaim#57,343Eastlake#57,359ellipsis#57,364

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list