mortise
MOR-tis
/ˈmɔːrtɪs/
A square or rectangular cavity cut into a piece of timber designed to receive a corresponding projecting peg (tenon).
Refers exclusively to the female (receiving socket) part of the joint.
The story behind the word. Originating from Old French mortaise (and possibly Arabic murtazz meaning 'fixed or fastened inside'), this term entered English building trades in the 14th century.
Word relationships
- socket: 'Socket' is a general mechanical receiver; 'mortise' is specific to rectangular timber cutouts.
- recess: 'Recess' implies any indented space, whereas 'mortise' is engineered precisely for joint alignment.
- tenon: The male projecting tongue that fits into a mortise.
Commonly confused with
- mortician: A mortician prepares deceased persons; a mortise is a slot cut into timber.
Word family
- mortising (noun): The process of cutting square cavities into timber.
Collocations
- mortise lock
- mortise joint
- cut a mortise
- mortise chisel
Example sentences
- "The carpenter laboriously hollowed out the deep mortise using a specialized heavy chisel and mallet." Traditional Timber Framing
- "Installing a mortise lock requires cutting a precise rectangular pocket into the thick edge of the wooden door." Locksmithing & Hardware
Memory hook
MORTISE is the hole where the TENON takes its residence. MORTISE = Matching Opening Receiving Timber Insert Securely.
When not to use
Do not confuse with the projecting pin that inserts into it (which is the tenon).
Fun facts
- A mortise and tenon joint is so strong that timber-framed houses built with them have survived 8.0-magnitude earthquakes in Japan.
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