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