| mortise | 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, 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 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. Origin: F. Mortaise; cf. Sp. Mortaja, Ar. Murtazz fixed, or W. Mortais, Ir. Mortis, moirtis, Gael. Moirteis. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| mortise joint | The joint that is formed by the inferior articular and malleolar articular surfaces of the tibia, the malleolar articular surface of the fibula, and the medial malleolar, lateral malleolar, and superior surfaces of the talus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mortling | 1. An animal, as a sheep, dead of disease or privation; a mortling. 2. Wool plucked from a dead sheep; morling. See: Morling. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Morton's neuralgia | Neuralgia of an interdigital nerve, usually the anastomotic branch between the medial and lateral plantar nerves, resulting from compression of the nerve by the metatarsophalangeal joint. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Morton's neuroma | <oncology, tumour> A ganglionic swelling or ganglion cyst in the forefoot. Symptoms include pain in the forefoot and localised swelling. (27 Sep 1997) |
| Morton's plane | A plane passing through the summits of the parietal and occipital protuberances. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Morton's syndrome | <syndrome> Congenital shortening of the first metatarsal causing metatarsalgia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Morton's toe | A particular form of metatarsalgia caused by enlargement of the digital nerve. Compare: Morton's syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Morton, Dudley | <person> U.S. Orthopedist, 1884-1960. See: Morton's syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Morton, Samuel | <person> U.S. Physician, 1799-1851. See: Morton's plane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Morton, Thomas | <person> U.S. Physician, 1835-1903. See: Morton's neuralgia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mortuary | Origin: LL. Mortuarium. See Mortuary. 1. A sort of ecclesiastical heriot, a customary gift claimed by, and due to, the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner. It seems to have been originally a voluntary bequest or donation, intended to make amends for any failure in the payment of tithes of which the deceased had been guilty. 2. A burial place; a place for the dead. 3. A place for the reception of the dead before burial; a deadhouse; a morgue. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| mortuary practice | Activities associated with the physical burial of the dead. It excludes cultural practices such as funeral rites. (12 Dec 1998) |