Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MOR'TAR, n.¹ [L. mortarium; Fr. mortier; Sp. mortero; It. mortaio; Dan. morter; D. mortier; G. mörser; Russ. morter; Arm. mortez; Ir. moirteal; allied perhaps to Fr. marteau; Sp. martillo, a hammer, and named from beating. See Class Mr, No. 10, 16, 25.]

1. A vessel of wood or metal in form of an inverted bell, in which substances are pounded or bruised with a pestle.
2. A short piece of ordnance, thick and wide, used for throwing bombs, carcasses, shells, &c. so named from its resemblance in shape to the utensil above described.