Inserted leaf in table top--definition

Answer 1

Originally a table leaf was a hinged section on the end(s) of a table that could be folded up when the table needed to be lengthened to accommodate more people, but folded down when not in use to conserve space, such as a drop-leaf table or a gate-leg table, the idea being that these hinged sections were movable like the leaves (pages) of a book. This usage was later broadened to include those tables that were made to be lengthened by pulling them apart in the center to reveal a pair of rails across which one or more pieces of wood (leaves) the exact width of the table could be laid. Both edges of the table opening and the edges of the leaves have a series of interlocking dowels and dowel-sized holes so that the edges can be fitted together edge to edge to hold the leaves in place and keep them from sliding horizontally.