mortise

[ mawr-tis ]

noun

1. a notch, hole, groove, or slot made in a piece of wood or the like to receive a tenon of the same dimensions.
2. a deep recess cut into wood for any of several other purposes, as for receiving a mortise lock.
3. 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.

1. to secure with a mortise and tenon
2. to cut or form a mortise in (a piece of wood or the like).
3. to join securely.
4. Printing.
   1. to cut metal from (a plate).
   2. to cut out metal from a plate and insert (new material) in its place.

mortise

/ ˈmɔːtɪs /

noun

1. 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
2. printing a cavity cut into a letterpress printing plate into which type or another plate is inserted

verb

1. to cut a slot or recess in (a piece of wood, stone, etc)
2. to join (two pieces of wood, stone, etc) by means of a mortise and tenon
3. to cut a cavity in (a letterpress printing plate) for the insertion of type, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈmortiser, noun

Other Words From

• mortis·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mortise¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English morteys, mortaise, from Anglo-French mortais(e), Old French mortoise; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of mortise¹

C14: from Old French mortoise, perhaps from Arabic murtazza fastened in position

Example Sentences

Instead, posts and beams were fitted together with mortise and tenon joints.

From Washington Post

The supporting standard is constructed of oak, with mortise-and-tenon joints, as shown in Fig. 4.

From Project Gutenberg

The glue must be applied immediately after the tenon is removed from the water, and then inserted in the mortise.

From Project Gutenberg

The end of the tenon and the mortise is then covered with a piece of metal, fastened with screws as shown.

From Project Gutenberg

A bridle joint is often defined as the reverse of a mortise and tenon, and is chiefly used in the carpentry and joinery trades.

From Project Gutenberg

A joint of this type may be applied in nearly all cases where a halved or a mortise and tenon joint could be used.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• confluence
• crossing
• intersection
• juncture
• terminal