mortise
or mor·tice
[ mawr-tis ]
/ ˈmɔr tɪs /
noun
a notch, hole, groove, or slot made in a piece of wood or the like to receive a tenon of the same dimensions.
a deep recess cut into wood for any of several other purposes, as for receiving a mortise lock.
Printing. a space cut out of a plate, especially for the insertion of type or another plate.
verb (used with object), mor·tised, mor·tis·ing.
Nearby words
mortician, mortiferous, mortification, mortify, mortimer, mortise, mortise block, mortise chisel, mortise joint, mortise lock, mortling
Origin of mortise
1350–1400; Middle English morteys, mortaise < Anglo-French mortais(e), Old French mortoise, of obscure origin
Related forms
mor·tis·er, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for mortise
British Dictionary definitions for mortise
mortise
mortice
/ (ˈmɔːtɪs) /
noun
a slot or recess, usually rectangular, cut into a piece of wood, stone, etc, to receive a matching projection (tenon) of another piece, or a mortise lock
printing a cavity cut into a letterpress printing plate into which type or another plate is inserted
verb (tr)
to cut a slot or recess in (a piece of wood, stone, etc)
to join (two pieces of wood, stone, etc) by means of a mortise and tenon
to cut a cavity in (a letterpress printing plate) for the insertion of type, etc
Derived Forms
mortiser, nounWord Origin for mortise
C14: from Old French mortoise, perhaps from Arabic murtazza fastened in position
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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