Main Entry:

¹mor·tar

Pronunciation:

\ˈmȯr-tər\

Function:

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 pestle2 [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

[mortar illustration]