I. ˈmȯr-tər noun
Etymology: Middle English morter, from Old English mortere & Anglo-French mortier, from Latin mortarium
Date: before 12th century
1. : a sturdy vessel in which material is pounded or rubbed with a pestle
2.
[Middle French mortier ]
a. : a muzzle-loading cannon having a tube short in relation to its caliber that is used to throw projectiles at high angles
b. : any of several similar firing devices
[
M mortar, P pestle
]
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English morter, from Anglo-French morter, mortier, from Latin mortarium
Date: 14th century
: a plastic building material (as a mixture of cement, lime, or gypsum plaster with sand and water) that hardens and is used in masonry or plastering
• mor·tar·less adjective
III. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
: to plaster or make fast with mortar