mortise Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a square hole made to receive a tenon and so to form a joint
    mortice.
  2. verb cut a hole for a tenon in
    mortice.
  3. verb join by a tenon and mortise
    mortice.

WordNet

Mor"tise noun
Etymology
F. mortaise; cf. Sp. mortaja, Ar. murtazz fixed, or W. mortais, Ir. mortis, moirtis, Gael. moirteis.
Definitions
  1. A cavity cut into a piece of timber, or other material, to receive something (as the end of another piece) made to fit it, and called a tenon.
Mor"tise transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Mortised ; present participle & verbal noun Mortising
Definitions
  1. To cut or make a mortisein.
  2. To join or fasten by a tenon and mortise; as, to mortise a beam into a post, or a joist into a girder.

Webster 1913