mortise

The story

1. Arabic · derived fromمُرْتَزّ“fastened”
2. Old French · derived frommortaise
3. Middle English · inherited frommorteys
4. English todaymortise

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

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A hole that is made to receive a tenon so as to form a joint.