| Mortise | 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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| Mortise | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mortised p. pr. & vb. n. Mortising. ] 1. To cut or make a mortise in. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To join or fasten by a tenon and mortise; as, to mortise a beam into a post, or a joist into a girder. [ 1913 Webster ] |