English Explanatory Dictionary

mortise

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A hole that is made to receive a tenon so as to form a joint.
  2. Stability; power of adhesion.
verb
  1. To cut a mortise in.
  2. To join by a mortise and tenon.
  3. To adjust the horizontal space between selected pairs of letters; to kern.

Pronunciation

môrtĭs môrtəs /ˈmɔː(ɹ).tɪs/ /ˈmɔː(ɹ).təs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-mortise.wav

Word forms

mortise mortises mortice mortising mortised

Etymology

From Middle English morteys, from Old French mortaise, from Arabic مُرْتَزّ (murtazz, “fastened”), from اِرْتَزَّ (irtazza).

Derived words

mortise-and-tenon joint mortise gear mortise lock mortiser mortise wheel stub mortise
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