I. noun
also mor·tice ˈmȯr]d.ə̇s, ˈmȯ(ə)], ]tə̇s
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English mortays, morteys, from Middle French mortaise
1. : a hole, groove, or slot into or through which some other part of any arrangement of parts fits or passes ; specifically : a usually rectangular cavity cut into a piece of timber or other material to receive a tenon
2. : a hole in a printing plate or cut into which matter (as type) can be inserted
II. transitive verb
also mortice “\
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English morteysen, from mortays, morteys, n.
1. : to join or fasten securely ; specifically : to join or fasten by a tenon and mortise
a thin strip of beech is nailed across each corner instead of being mortised — Joseph Downs
this loyalty and this courage, like all virtues not mortised in philosophy, are limited — Clifton Fadiman
a tightly mortised, exciting plot — E.J.Fitzgerald
2.
a. : to cut or make a mortise in
b. : to cut away part of the body of (a printing character) to obtain a closer fit