# mortise

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈmɔː(ɹ).tɪs/ · frequency rank #78,845

## Definitions
1. A hole that is made to receive a tenon so as to form a joint.
2. Stability; power of adhesion.

## Etymology
From Middle English morteys, from Old French mortaise, from Arabic مُرْتَزّ (murtazz, “fastened”), from اِرْتَزَّ (irtazza).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mortise