MORTISE

mortise. Mortise, n. a term injoinery, joint, cut, hole

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Mor″tise (?), n. [[F. mortaise; cf. Sp. mortaja, Ar. murtazz fixed, or W. mortais, Ir. mortis, moirtis, Gael. moirteis.]] 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. Mortise and tenon (Carp.), made with a mortise and tenon; joined or united by means of a mortise and tenon; — used adjectively. — Mortise joint, a joint made by a mortise and tenon. — Mortise lock. See under Lock. — Mortise wheel, a cast-iron wheel, with wooden clogs inserted in mortises on its face or edge; — also called mortise gear, and core gear.