Dictionary

mortise en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• môrtĭs
• môrtəs
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈmɔː(ɹ).tɪs/
• /ˈmɔː(ɹ).təs/

Etymology

From Middle English morteys, from Old French mortaise, from Arabic مُرْتَزّ (murtazz, “fastened”), from اِرْتَزَّ (irtazza).

Meanings

1. A hole that is made to receive a tenon so as to form a joint.
   • A keyed mortise-and-tenon joint is constructed the same as a doweled mortise and tenon joint except that the tenon projects far enough through the mortise to admit the insertion of a tapering key which draws the mortised piece firmly against the shoulder of the tenon. 1918, Herman Frederick Rusch, Shop Work, Joinery-cabinet-making-carpentry, Chicago, Illinois, United States: University of Chicago Press, page 56:
   • If there is much gauging for the same size mortise and tenon to be done, and if a mortise gauge is not handy, a simple improvised gauge for the purpose can easily be made with two pieces of wood and four or five steel sprigs… 2016 September 6, A Little Book of Woodworking Joints - Including Dovetailing, Mortise-and-Tenon and Mitred Joints, 2nd edition (paperback), Read Books Limited, →ISBN:
2. Stability; power of adhesion.

Forms

Coordinates

rebate · tenon · rabbet

Deriveds

stub mortise · mortise wheel · mortise lock · mortise gear · mortiser · mortise-and-tenon joint

Translations (29)

he שֶׁקַע (a hole for a tenon) · ja ほぞ穴 (a hole for a tenon) · es mortaja (a hole for a tenon) · ru па́з (a hole for a tenon) · fi lovi (a hole for a tenon) · ru про́резь (a hole for a tenon) · ru вы́рез (a hole for a tenon) · pl gniazdo czopa (a hole for a tenon) · gl fura (a hole for a tenon) · he גֶּרֶז (a hole for a tenon) · de Zapfenloch (a hole for a tenon) · cs dlab (a hole for a tenon) · bg жлеб (a hole for a tenon) · cmn 榫眼 (a hole for a tenon) · ja 枘穴 (a hole for a tenon) · fr mortaise (a hole for a tenon) · gl caixa (a hole for a tenon) · de Einsteckschloss (a hole for a tenon) · fi kolo (a hole for a tenon) · ca caixa (a hole for a tenon) · it mortasa (a hole for a tenon) · tl bakam (a hole for a tenon) · tl aab (a hole for a tenon) · io mortezo (a hole for a tenon) · es caja (a hole for a tenon) · pl wpust (a hole for a tenon) · ru гнездо́ (a hole for a tenon) · ru вы́емка (a hole for a tenon) · fi reikä (a hole for a tenon)

mortise en · VERB

Pronunciation

• môrtĭs
• môrtəs
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈmɔː(ɹ).tɪs/
• /ˈmɔː(ɹ).təs/

Etymology

From Middle English morteys, from Old French mortaise, from Arabic مُرْتَزّ (murtazz, “fastened”), from اِرْتَزَّ (irtazza).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To cut a mortise in.
   • A keyed mortise-and-tenon joint is constructed the same as a doweled mortise and tenon joint except that the tenon projects far enough through the mortise to admit the insertion of a tapering key which draws the mortised piece firmly against the shoulder of the tenon. 1918, Herman Frederick Rusch, Shop Work, Joinery-cabinet-making-carpentry, Chicago, Illinois, United States: University of Chicago Press, page 56:
2. (transitive) To join by a mortise and tenon.
   • Sculptures from Mohenjodaro and Tell Asmar in 2400 B.C. show wheels consisting of three pieces of wood mortised together, and bound with leather tyres which were attached with copper nails. These wheels turned in one piece with the axle, which was secured to the body of the sledge with leather thongs. 1971, Gwen White, Antique Toys And Their Background, page 79:
3. To adjust the horizontal space between selected pairs of letters; to kern.

Forms