Shiplap is a type of wooden board used commonly in the construction of barns, sheds, outbuildings and inexpensive or seasonal homes. It is either rough-sawn 1` or milled 3/4` pine or similarly inexpensive wood between 3` and 10` wide with a 3/8` - 1/2` rabbet on opposite sides of each end. The rabbet allows the boards to overlap in this area... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiplap