Defn: 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.
MORTISE
Mor"tise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mortised; p. pr. & vb. n. Mortising.]
1. To cut or make a mortisein.
2. To join or fasten by a tenon and mortise; as, to mortise a beam into a post, or a joist into a girder.
MORTLING
Mort"ling, n. Etym: [See Morling.]
1. An animal, as a sheep, dead of disease or privation; a mortling. [Eng.]
2. Wool plucked from a dead sheep; morling.
MORTMAIN Mort"main`, n. Etym: [F. mort, morte, dead + main hand; F. main- morte. See Mortal, and Manual.] (Law)
Defn: Possession of lands or tenements in, or conveyance to, dead hands, or hands that cannot alienate.
Note: The term was originally applied to conveyance of land made to ecclesiastical bodies; afterward to conveyance made to any corporate body. Burrill.