dado Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun panel forming the lower part of an interior wall when it is finished differently from the rest of the wall
    wainscot.
  2. noun the section of a pedestal between the base and the surbase
  3. noun a rectangular groove cut into a board so that another piece can fit into it
  4. verb provide with a dado
    • The owners wanted to dado their dining room
  5. verb cut a dado into or fit into a dado

WordNet

Da"do noun
Etymology
It. dado die, cube, pedestal; of the same origin as E. die, n. See Die, n.
Wordforms
plural Dadoes
Definitions
  1. (Arch.) (a) That part of a pedestal included between the base and the cornice (or surbase); the die. See Illust. of Column. Hence: (b) In any wall, that part of the basement included between the base and the base course. See Base course, under Base. (c) In interior decoration, the lower part of the wall of an apartment when adorned with moldings, or otherwise specially decorated.

Webster 1913