Cutting Didoes

[Scott Swanson]

On Wed, 16 Oct 2002, Mark A Mandel wrote:

>> I would have pictured a
>> #carpenter cutting fancy curlicues, the sense then extended to a pilot
>> #making fancy loops. But I don't recall whether I ever really saw this
>> #etymology asserted (even if I did, it might not have any truth).

> I thought of that too, but I'm pretty sure that's "dado".

Actually, a "dado", at least in the context of carpentry, refers to a
straight wide groove cut into the wood. Nothing fancy about it.
--
Scott Swanson