trying plane
Very LowTechnical/Historical (woodworking)
Definition
Meaning
A bench plane of medium length, designed to smooth and finish long edges or surfaces after initial rough planing.
A specific woodworking tool (historical/technical) used to achieve a flat, true surface, often in preparation for finer finishing tools. By metaphorical extension, it can describe any rigorous process of refinement or smoothing out difficulties.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A highly specific term from traditional woodworking/carpentry. It is not a general-use phrase and is largely obsolete outside of historical texts or specialist craft discussions. The compound 'trying' here relates to 'truing' or making something true/straight/level.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant contemporary difference in usage, as the term is archaic in both varieties. In historical contexts, it was standard in both regions.
Connotations
Connotes traditional craftsmanship, manual skill, and precision. May evoke nostalgia for hand-tool woodworking.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern language. Almost exclusively found in historical woodworking manuals, antique tool catalogues, or among hand-tool enthusiasts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[User] + uses + [trying plane] + to + [verb] + [surface].[Trying plane] + produces + [result].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] Life's trying planes smooth out our rough edges.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or material culture studies related to craft and technology.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would likely cause confusion.
Technical
The primary domain: traditional woodworking, restoration, antique tool collecting.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The joiner will be trying the edge of the board with his longest plane.
- After trying the surface, he applied shellac.
American English
- The carpenter tried the door frame with a number 7 plane.
- You need to try that joint before sanding.
adverb
British English
- This is not used adverbially.
American English
- This is not used adverbially.
adjective
British English
- The trying-plane iron requires honing.
- He reached for his trying-plane handle.
American English
- The trying plane blade is set for a fine cut.
- She admired the antique trying-plane sole.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is not a word for A2 level.
- This is not a word for B1 level.
- In the workshop, he selected a trying plane to flatten the tabletop.
- The cabinetmaker's toolkit included several trying planes of different lengths.
- The trying plane, essential for producing a true surface in pre-industrial woodworking, has been largely supplanted by powered thicknessers.
- His mastery was evident in the effortless strokes of the trying plane, each pass revealing a mirror-flat grain.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a carpenter TRYING very hard to get a surface perfectly flat and smooth using this specific PLANE.
Conceptual Metaphor
REFINEMENT IS SMOOTHING (A difficult, refining process is like using a trying plane to make a rough surface flat and true).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'пытающийся самолёт' (an attempting airplane). It is a tool, not a vehicle. A direct translation will be nonsensical. The word 'trying' is a gerund related to 'to try' in the sense of 'testing for truth/straightness', not 'attempting'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a phrase meaning 'an airplane that is attempting something'.
- Confusing it with the common adjective 'trying' meaning 'difficult or annoying'.
- Assuming it is a common or current term.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'trying plane' primarily used for?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare, technical term from traditional woodworking and is largely obsolete.
No. In this context, 'trying' is related to the old sense of 'testing for truth' or 'making true' (straight/level). It's about accuracy, not difficulty.
Modern workshops might use a long-bed power jointer or a thickness planer, followed by a random-orbit sander or a smoother hand plane for fine work.
Yes, but it would be a very sophisticated and niche metaphor, understood only if the context makes the woodworking meaning clear (e.g., 'The rigorous editing process was the trying plane that smoothed the rough manuscript').