Bill wrote, on Mon, 06 Oct 2014 02:08:32 -0400:

I didn't read everything above.. but maybe the use of spline by
woodworkers is more closely related to the "splint"--like you would use
on a broken finger.

That might explain why the woodworker's "spline" is straight, while the
draftsman's spline is decidedly curved!

http://knowledge.autodesk.com/suppor...63F68-htm.html
http://autocadtips.wordpress.com/201...ders-mleaders/

I wonder how a woodworking draftsman handles the confusion when he has
to draw a draftsman's splined leader to a woodworking spline?