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

Traditional names for the woodworks’ joints, such as “gooseneck mortise” and “two-stop tenon,” sound a little like Jazz Age cocktails or dance crazes.

From New York Times

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

From Washington Post

“The protruding tenons are clearing visible and the corresponding horizontal lintel stone would have had mortise holes for them to slot into. A bit like early Lego!”

From Fox News

The uprights and the lintels, both made of local sarsen stone, were locked together by means of a joint more commonly used in woodwork – the mortise and tenon.

From The Guardian

If not, then you may have to set the hinge plate deeper in its mortise.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• confluence
• crossing
• intersection
• juncture
• terminal