Search

a person who builds or repairs wooden structures, as houses, scaffolds, or shelving.
to do carpenter’s work.
to make by carpentry.
to construct (a plot, scene, article, or the like) in a mechanical or unoriginal fashion.
John Alden, 1876–1951, U.S. composer.
(Malcolm) Scott, 1925–2013, U.S. astronaut and oceanographer.
Contemporary Examples

Jackman’s character is a carpenter, husband to Grace (Maria Bello), and father of two.
Hugh Jackman on ‘Prisoners,’ the Oscars, ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ and More Marlow Stern September 15, 2013

He was standing guard at a different post, attacked at the same time as carpenter and Eufrazio.
Marine Kyle Carpenter to Receive the Medal of Honor Brian Van Reet March 17, 2014

This is the literary child who becomes a carpenter, does good work, and grows up to have a happy if very quiet life.
The Most Underrated Novels I’ve Edited Daniel Menaker November 18, 2013

carpenter lost an eye in the explosion and suffered serious wounds to his face and side.
Marine Kyle Carpenter to Receive the Medal of Honor Brian Van Reet March 17, 2014

carpenter, happily, is too fine a scholar to speculate overmuch on the ultimate fate of Proposition 8.
The Real Story of Lawrence v. Texas Revealed in ‘Flagrant Conduct’ Kirk Davis Swinehart March 27, 2012

Historical Examples

He was a carpenter, and thought he stood for the whole Federation of Labor.
Calumet ‘K’ Samuel Merwin

The gunner and carpenter joined the same day he got his warrant.
The Three Commanders W.H.G. Kingston

I have been a carpenter all my life—ever since I was about sixteen years old.
Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Work Projects Administration

Dock Vincent was in the next room, apparently as busy as the carpenter’s son.
Freaks of Fortune Oliver Optic

I—did carpenter work as well as sandblasted the outside of the building.
Warren Commission (6 of 26): Hearings Vol. VI (of 15) The President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy

noun
a person skilled in woodwork, esp in buildings, ships, etc
verb
(intransitive) to do the work of a carpenter
(transitive) to make or fit together by or as if by carpentry
noun
John Alden. 1876–1951, US composer, who used jazz rhythms in orchestral music: his works include the ballet Skyscrapers (1926) and the orchestral suite Adventures in a Perambulator (1915)
n.

“wood-worker,” c.1300 (attested from early 12c. as a surname), from Anglo-French carpenter, Old North French carpentier (Old French and Modern French charpentier), from Late Latin (artifex) carpentarius “wagon (maker),” from Latin carpentum “wagon, two-wheeled carriage, cart,” from Gaulish, from Old Celtic *carpentom (cf. Old Irish carpat, Gaelic carbad “carriage”), probably related to Gaulish karros (see car).

Also from the Late Latin word are Spanish carpentero, Italian carpentiero. Replaced Old English treowwyrhta, literally “tree-wright.” German Zimmermann “carpenter” is from Old High German zimbarman, from zimbar “wood for building, timber,” cognate with Old Norse timbr (see timber). First record of carpenter bee is from 1844.

an artificer in stone, iron, and copper, as well as in wood (2 Sam. 5:11; 1 Chr. 14:1; Mark 6:3). The tools used by carpenters are mentioned in 1 Sam. 13:19, 20; Judg. 4:21; Isa. 10:15; 44:13. It was said of our Lord, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?” (Matt. 13:55); also, “Is not this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:3). Every Jew, even the rabbis, learned some handicraft: Paul was a tentmaker. “In the cities the carpenters would be Greeks, and skilled workmen; the carpenter of a provincial village could only have held a very humble position, and secured a very moderate competence.”