Mortar Is a Bowl, a Building Paste and a Weapon
A mortar is a bowl for grinding, the mix between bricks, and a short cannon. All three come from one Latin word.
A mortar is a bowl in which substances are ground with a pestle. Two other senses grew from it: the building material was mixed in such a vessel, and the short stubby cannon was named for its resemblance to the bowl. The academic *mortarboard* is named for the flat board on which a bricklayer holds mortar.
- A grinding bowl. *A pestle and mortar.*
- A building paste. *Lime mortar.*
- A short cannon. *A mortar shell.*
- Mortarboard — an academic cap. *Cap and gown.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mortar | Fresh mortar. |
| Plural | mortars | Two mortars. |
| Related | pestle | A stone pestle. |
| Compound | mortarboard | A black mortarboard. |
| Related | pointing | Repointing the wall. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Grind the spices in a mortar.Kitchen.
- Lime mortar allows old walls to breathe.Conservation.
- Bricks and mortar means physical premises.As opposed to online.
Types of mortar in building
- Lime mortar — traditional, flexible and breathable
- Cement mortar — modern, stronger but less forgiving
- Pointing — the finished surface of mortar between bricks
- Repointing — renewing decayed mortar joints
- Warning — cement mortar on an old lime-built wall can trap moisture and cause damage
From Latin *mortarium*, a mortar bowl and the substance pounded in it. The weapon sense is sixteenth century.
Why is an academic cap a mortarboard?
Because its flat square shape resembles the board on which a bricklayer carries mortar.
Why does lime mortar matter for old buildings?
It is flexible and lets moisture evaporate. Modern cement mortar is rigid and can trap water, damaging soft historic brick and stone.