A rabbet (also known as a rebate in Britain ) is a recess or groove cut into the edge of a piece of machinable material, usually wood. When viewed in cross-section, a rabbet is two-sided and open to the edge or end of the surface into which it is cut.The word rabbet is from Old French rabbat, "a recess into a wall," and rabattre "to beat down".An example of the use of a rabbet is in a glazing bar where it makes provision for the insertion of the pane of glass and putty.