A mortise is a precisely cut hole, slot, or recess in a piece of material—usually wood—made to receive a matching projection called a tenon in a joint known as a mortise-and-tenon joint.
Basic meaning
In woodworking, a mortise is typically a rectangular cavity cut into one piece of wood so that another piece, shaped with a tenon, can fit tightly into it to form a strong joint. This type of connection is widely used because it resists pulling apart and twisting when properly sized and glued or pinned.
Uses and variations
Mortises are common in furniture, doors, frames, and structural timber where durable joints are needed. There are several types, such as through mortises that go completely through the piece, and stub or blind mortises that stop partway into the wood.
Other contexts
The same idea appears in hardware like mortise locks, where a pocket is cut into the edge of a door to house the lock body. In general engineering and construction, “mortise” can also refer to a shaped recess in wood, stone, or metal designed to receive a corresponding part.
