mitre

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a tall ceremonial headdress worn by a bishop or certain other church dignitaries

   The bishop wore a white mitre during the procession.

2. 2
   noun

   a bevelled end or joint made by fitting two pieces together at an angle, especially 45 degrees; chiefly British spelling

   The carpenter cut each mitre carefully so the frame met at a clean corner.

From Middle English mytre, through Old French mitre from Ancient Greek mitra, 'headband or turban.' The church sense refers to a bishop's ceremonial headdress. The angled-joint sense arose from a perceived resemblance to the mitre's pointed or folded form; miter is the usual US spelling.

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