chase mortise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/Very TechnicalSpecialized/Technical (primarily carpentry, joinery, stonemasonry)
Quick answer
What does “chase mortise” mean?
A recess or groove cut into a piece of wood or stone to receive another component, often specifically to receive a lock or tenon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A recess or groove cut into a piece of wood or stone to receive another component, often specifically to receive a lock or tenon.
In carpentry and joinery, a prepared cavity (mortise) that is chased or cut into a material to house a fitting, lock, or the tenon of another piece. The term emphasizes the action of cutting or forming the recess.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is technically identical, but 'mortise' is the standard spelling in both UK and US technical contexts. 'Mortice' is a common UK variant spelling but is less frequent in technical writing.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation; it is a purely technical descriptor.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Used almost exclusively by carpenters, joiners, locksmiths, and stonemasons.
Grammar
How to Use “chase mortise” in a Sentence
[Tool/Worker] + chase mortise + [Object] (e.g., The router chased a mortise into the stile.)[Object] + have/has + a chase mortise (e.g., The door has a chase mortise for the deadbolt.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chase mortise” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The joiner carefully chiselled out the chase mortise for the new lock.
- Ensure the chase mortise is deep enough to fully house the mechanism.
- A template was used to mark the exact position of the chase mortise on the door edge.
American English
- You'll need a mortising jig to rout the chase mortise accurately.
- The old chase mortise had to be widened to fit the modern deadbolt.
- Fill the old chase mortise with wood epoxy before cutting a new one.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; might appear in procurement for specialized woodworking or construction materials.
Academic
Used in textbooks and papers on woodworking, joinery, historical building methods, or furniture conservation.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term within relevant trades for describing the prepared cavity for a lock, hinge, or joint component.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chase mortise”
- Using 'chase mortise' as a verb (it is a noun).
- Confusing it with 'dovetail mortise' or other specific mortise types.
- Misspelling 'mortise' as 'mortease' or 'mortice' (though the latter is a recognized variant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost. 'Mortise' is the general term for a cavity. 'Chase mortise' often emphasizes the mortise created by the process of chasing (cutting) and can specifically denote one intended for a lock or similar fixture, but in practice, they are frequently used interchangeably in the trade.
No. 'Chase mortise' is a compound noun. The verb form would be 'to mortise' or 'to chase (a mortise)'. For example: 'He will mortise the door for the lock' or 'He will chase a mortise for the lock'.
It is primarily a woodworking and joinery term. A similar concept exists in stonemasonry (e.g., chasing a recess for a metal clamp), but the specific phrase 'chase mortise' is most strongly associated with wood.
Traditionally, a chisel and mallet. Modern methods use a mortising machine, a router with a mortising bit, or a drill press with a mortising attachment.
A recess or groove cut into a piece of wood or stone to receive another component, often specifically to receive a lock or tenon.
Chase mortise is usually specialized/technical (primarily carpentry, joinery, stonemasonry) in register.
Chase mortise: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeɪs ˈmɔː.tɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃeɪs ˈmɔːr.t̬ɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a dog (chase) trying to catch a bone hidden in a hole (mortise) in a fence post. The 'chase' is the action to get to the 'mortise' (the hole).
Conceptual Metaphor
A RECEPTACLE IS A CONTAINER / A PROCESS FOR A PRODUCT (The 'chasing' action creates the 'mortise' container).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a 'chase mortise'?