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n. 1. A usually rectangular cavity in a piece of wood, stone, or other material, prepared to receive a tenon and thus form a joint. 2. Printing A hole cut in a plate for insertion of type. tr.v. mor·tised, mor·tis·ing, mor·tis·es also mor·ticed or mor·tic·ing or mor·tic·es 1. To join or fasten securely, as with a mortise and tenon. 2. To make a mortise in. 3. Printing a. To cut a hole in (a plate) for the insertion of type. b. To cut such a hole and insert (type). [Middle English mortaise, from Old French, perhaps from Arabic murtazz, fastened, from irtazza, to be fixed (in place), derived stem of razza, to fix, insert; see rzz in the Appendix of Semitic roots.]  (click for a larger image) mortisemortise-and-tenon joint |
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