mortise

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“
Chisel out a V shaped opening about as deep as the mortise, and then from this hole work back to each end, occasionally prying out the chips.

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Definitions (16)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (6)

  1. noun A usually rectangular cavity in a piece of wood, stone, or other material, prepared to receive a tenon and thus form a joint.
  2. noun Printing A hole cut in a plate for insertion of type.
  3. transitive verb To join or fasten securely, as with a mortise and tenon.
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Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (5)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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Examples (50)

  • Mr. Richard Roberts, by some excellent modifications, enabled it to mortise or cut out the key-grooves in metal wheels, and this method soon came into general use. —  James Nasmyth: Engineer, An Autobiography.
  • The mortise is the cavity hollowed to fit the tenon, which is the end of the interlocking beam, shaped to fit smoothly into the mortise. —  Columbia Missourian: Latest Articles
  • Care should be taken to work back to the lines gradually, to cut only part way thru from each side (in the case of a thru mortise-and-tenon), and to keep the cut faces perpendicular to the surfaces In sharpening a chisel it is of first importance that the back be kept perfectly flat. —  Handwork in Wood
  • The joints are either pinned or wedged mortise-and-tenon, or draw-bolt joints. —  Handwork in Wood
  • The mortise is the rectangular hole cut to receive the tenon and is made slightly deeper than the tenon is long. —  Handwork in Wood
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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English mortaise, from Old French, perhaps from Arabic murtazz, fastened, from irtazza, to be fixed (in place), derived stem of razza, to fix, insert; see rzz in Semitic roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Also mortice, early modern English also mortaise, morteise, mortesse; from Middle English morteis, mortais, mortas, from Old French mortaise, mortoise, French mortaise; cf. Italian mortise (Florio), Spanish mortaja, a mortise; ult. origin unknown. The equivalent W. mortais, Irish mortis, moirtis, Gael, moirteis, are of English, and Bret, mortez is of French origin.
  2. from Middle English morteysen, from Old French mortaisier, mortoiser, mortise; from the noun.
 

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/ˈmɔrtɪs/
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