What is "mortar board"

mortarboard \mortarboard\, mortar board \mortar board\n.

1. A small square board with a handle beneath, for holding mortar; a hawk; used by masons to hold or carry mortar.

2. An academic cap topped by broad, projecting, stiff and flat square top, with a tassel attached to the top and hanging down. It was once worn by students in some colleges, but is now worn usually only at graduation ceremonies.

Trencher \Trench"er\, n. [OE. trencheoir, F. tranchoir, fr. trancher to cut, carve. See Trench, v. t.]

1. One who trenches; esp., one who cuts or digs ditches.

2. A large wooden plate or platter, as for table use.

3. The table; hence, the pleasures of the table; food.

   It could be no ordinary declension of nature that could bring some men, after an ingenuous education, to place their ``summum bonum'' upon their trenchers.
   --South.

   Trencher cap, the cap worn by studens at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, having a stiff, flat, square appendage at top. A similar cap used in the United States is called Oxford cap, mortar board, etc.

   Trencher fly, a person who haunts the tables of others; a parasite. [R.]
   --L'Estrange.

   Trencher friend, one who frequents the tables of others; a sponger.

   Trencher mate, a table companion; a parasite; a trencher fly.
   --Hooker.

Mortar Board is the premier national honor society for college seniors. Mortar Board has 231 chartered collegiate chapters nationwide and 15 alumni chapters.