CHAMFER

chamfer, champfer or chaumfer (fr. _chanfrein_; possibly from lat. _cantus_, corner, and _frangere_, to break), an architectural term; when the edge or arris of any work is cut off at an angle of 45 deg. in a small degree, it is said to be "chamfered," while it would be "canted" if on a large scale. the chamfer is much used in medieval work, and is sometimes plain, sometimes hollowed out and sometimes moulded. chamfers are sometimes "stopped" by a bead or some moulding, but when cut short by a slope they are generally known as "stop chamfer."