See Also: Mortise(medicine)
mortise(dictionary)
mortise(dictionary)
mortise joint(medicine)
mortise lock(dictionary)

mortise (iou)



mortise noun & verb. Also mortice. LME.
[Old French mortoise (mod. mortaise) = Spanish mortaja, perh. from Arab. murtaj locked, place of locking.]
A. noun. A cavity or recess in a framework into which the end of some other part is fitted to form a joint; spec. in Carpentry, a (usu. rectangular) recess cut in the surface of a piece of timber etc. to receive a tenon. Also, a groove or slot in or through which to put a rope, an adjustable pin, etc. LME.
mortise and tenon, tenon and mortise a joint composed of a mortise and a tenon; the method of joining pieces of wood etc. with a mortise and a tenon.
Comb.: mortise lock a lock recessed into a mortise in the frame of a door, a window, etc.
b. verb trans.
Fasten, fix, or join securely; spec. in Carpentry, join with a mortise and tenon; fasten into or to by means of mortise and tenon. LME.
Cut a mortise in; cut through with a mortise. E17.
mortiser noun a machine for cutting mortises L19.