a slot or recess, usually rectangular, cut into a piece of wood, stone, etc, to receive a matching projection (tenon) of another piece, or a mortise lock
2.
printing a cavity cut into a letterpress printing plate into which type or another plate is inserted
—vb
3.
to cut a slot or recess in (a piece of wood, stone, etc)
4.
to join (two pieces of wood, stone, etc) by means of a mortise and tenon
5.
to cut a cavity in (a letterpress printing plate) for the insertion of type, etc
[C14: from Old French mortoise, perhaps from Arabic murtazza fastened in position]
morticeormortice
—n
—vb
[C14: from Old French mortoise, perhaps from Arabic murtazza fastened in position]
c.1400, "hole or groove in which something is fitted to form a joint," from O.Fr. mortaise (13c.), possibly from Arabic murtazz "fastened," pp. of razza "cut a mortise in." Cf. Sp. mortaja.