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mortise

 - 3 dictionary results

mor⋅tise

[mawr-tis] noun, verb, -tised, -tis⋅ing.
–noun
1. a notch, hole, groove, or slot made in a piece of wood or the like to receive a tenon of the same dimensions.
2. a deep recess cut into wood for any of several other purposes, as for receiving a mortise lock.
3. Printing. a space cut out of a plate, esp. for the insertion of type or another plate.
–verb (used with object)
4. to secure with a mortise and tenon.
5. to cut or form a mortise in (a piece of wood or the like).
6. to join securely.
7. Printing.
a. to cut metal from (a plate).
b. to cut out metal from a plate and insert (new material) in its place.
Also, mortice.


Origin:
1350–1400; ME morteys, mortaise < AF mortais(e), OF mortoise, of obscure orig.


mor⋅tis⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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mor·tise also mor·tice   (môr'tĭs)   


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n.  
  1. A usually rectangular cavity in a piece of wood, stone, or other material, prepared to receive a tenon and thus form a joint.

  2. Printing A hole cut in a plate for insertion of type.

tr.v.   mor·tised also mor·ticed, mor·tis·ing also mor·tic·ing, mor·tis·es also mor·tic·es
  1. To join or fasten securely, as with a mortise and tenon.

  2. To make a mortise in.

  3. Printing

    1. To cut a hole in (a plate) for the insertion of type.

    2. To cut such a hole and insert (type).


[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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

mortise 
c.1400, "hole or groove in which something is fitted to form a joint," from O.Fr. mortaise (13c.), possibly from Ar. murtazz "fastened," pp. of razza "cut a mortise in." Cf. Sp. mortaja.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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