Morse taper

noun

1. engineering a taper that is one of a standard series used in the shank of tools to fit a matching taper in the mandrel of a machine tool

Word History and Origins

Origin of Morse taper¹

probably named after the Morse Twist Drill Co, Massachusetts, US

Example Sentences

The taper shanks of twist drills are given a standard degree of taper of 5⁄8 inch per foot of length, which is termed the Morse taper.

From Project Gutenberg

A set of chuck drills, ranging from 3⁄8 to 3⁄4 inch, advancing by 1⁄32 inch, and a set of Morse taper shank drills ranging from 3⁄4 to 11⁄4 inches, by increments of 1⁄16 inch, will be all that is needed for the most pretentious repair shop, as it is cheaper to bore holes larger than 11⁄4 inches with a boring tool than it is to carry a number of large drills in stock that would be used very seldom, perhaps not enough to justify their cost.

From Project Gutenberg