1. To cut off the edge or corner of; bevel.
2. To cut a groove in; flute.

1. A flat surface made by cutting off the edge or corner of a block of wood or other material.
2. A furrow or groove, as in a column.

[Probably back-formation from chamfering, from French chanfrein, bevelled edge, from past participle of Old French chanfreindre, to bevel : chant, edge (from Latin canthus, iron tire; see cant¹) + fraindre, to break (from Latin frangere).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.