mortar 1
/mawr"teuhr/ , n.
1. a receptacle of hard material, having a bowl-shaped cavity in which substances are reduced to powder with a pestle.
2. any of various mechanical appliances in which substances are pounded or ground.
3. a cannon very short in proportion to its bore, for throwing shells at high angles.
4. some similar contrivance, as for throwing pyrotechnic bombs or a lifeline.
v.t. , v.i.
5. to attack with mortar fire or shells.
[ bef. 1000; ME, OE mortere and OF mortier mortarium; in defs. 3, 4 trans. of F mortier 2 ]
mortar 2
— mortarless , adj. — mortary , adj.
/mawr"teuhr/ , n.
1. a mixture of lime or cement or a combination of both with sand and water, used as a bonding agent between bricks, stones, etc.
2. any of various materials or compounds for bonding together bricks, stones, etc.: Bitumen was used as a mortar.
v.t.
3. to plaster or fix with mortar.
[ 1250-1300; ME morter mortier MORTAR 1 , hence the mixture produced in it ]