hozo ほぞ

Old pronunciation was hoso. A tenon. Protuberances of differing shape and size made on the end of wood, stone, or metal construction materials for insertion into cavities or mortises *hozo-ana ほぞ穴 of corresponding shape and size cut into other members to which the tenons are to be joined. The tenon is often referred to as the male member ogi 男木.
Tenons have many different names depending on their shape. These include the single rectangular tenon *hirahozo 平ほぞ, the double tenons *nimaihozo 二枚ほぞ and quadruple tenons *yonmaihozo 四枚ほぞ, haunched tenon *konehozo 小根ほぞ, stacked tenon *jūhozo 重ほぞ, the three-pronged tenon *wanagihozo 輪薙ほぞ, dovetail tenon *arihozo 蟻ほぞ, the trapezoidal-shaped tenon ōgihozo 扇ほぞ (used where corner pillars and ground sills are joined), the fox tenon *jigokuhozo 地獄ほぞ, collar tenon eriwahozo 襟輪ほぞ, and ladle tenon *shakushihozo 杓子ほぞ . A small square or rectangular-shaped tenon placed on top of a trapezoidal tenon is called ōgijūhozo 扇重ほぞ. In the case of a standing Buddha, square-shaped, upstanding ridges are carved on the soles of his feet, and these fit into cavities in the pedestal underneath. These are known as *ashihozo 足ほぞ (foot tenon).