The Collaborative International Dictionary
Mortise \Mor"tise\, n. [F. mortaise; cf. Sp. mortaja, Ar. murtazz fixed, or W. mortais, Ir. mortis, moirtis, Gael. moirteis.] A cavity cut into a piece of timber, or other material, to receive something (as the end of another piece) made to fit it, and called a tenon.
Mortise and tenon (Carp.), made with a mortise and tenon; joined or united by means of a mortise and tenon; -- used adjectively.
Mortise joint, a joint made by a mortise and tenon.
Mortise lock. See under Lock.
Mortise wheel, a cast-iron wheel, with wooden clogs inserted in mortises on its face or edge; -- also called mortise gear, and core gear.
WordNet
n. a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus [syn: ankle, ankle joint, articulatio talocruralis]
a joint made by inserting tenon on one piece into mortise holes in the other [syn: mortise-and-tenon joint]
Usage examples of "mortise joint".
The whole joint is insecure and coming apart inside, like a mortise joint in a piece of furniture when the glue’.