Main Entry: ¹mor·tise

Variant(s): also mor·tice \ˈmȯr-təs\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English mortays, from Anglo-French mortais

Date: 15th century

: a hole, groove, or slot into or through which some other part of an arrangement of parts fits or passes; especially : a cavity cut into a piece of material (as timber) to receive a tenon — see dovetail illustration