Carpenter - Definition and Overview

A carpenter is a skilled craftsman who performs carpentry -- a wide range of woodworking that includes constructing buildings, furniture, and other large objects out of wood.

Since most of carpentry's required knowledge is gained through experience, the profession is relatively easy to enter, but the job usually does not pay well, involves significant manual labor and working outdoors. Many people have become carpenters in order to make a living while pursuing other interests (for example Harrison Ford turned to carpentry while going through a lull in his acting career in the 1970s). Some people have become famous as carpenters, such as Norm Abram.

Carpentry is an old profession that is often respected for its importance in society throughout much of history. Joseph (husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus) and Jesus himself are often considered carpenters.

In British slang a carpenter is sometimes referred to as a "chippie".

See also

• Building construction