Meaning & use
mortise lock
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A lock whose main body is fitted into a rectangular hole cut inside the edge of a door, with only the faceplate and handles visible.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a mortise lock' or 'mortise locks'. Often appears after 'a' or in the plural when talking about door hardware.
Patterns
- install a mortise lock
- a mortise lock on the door
- replace the mortise lock
The old front door still has a heavy brass mortise lock.
A mortise lock is stronger than many surface-mounted locks because it sits inside the door.
The locksmith charged extra to fit a new mortise lock into the solid oak door.
Word forms
| plural | mortise locks |
|---|
Common combinations
- mortise lock body
- The mortise lock body fits inside the door, while the handles show on both sides.
- mortise lock set
- He bought a complete mortise lock set with handles and keys.
- install a mortise lock
- It takes a skilled carpenter to install a mortise lock properly.
- mortise lock cylinder
- The key turns a small cylinder inside the mortise lock.
Synonyms and how they differ
- deadlock
- A deadlock is any lock that needs a key on both sides; a mortise lock may or may not be a deadlock, since some have a latch that opens with a handle.
- sash lock
- A sash lock is a type of mortise lock made for sliding sash windows, not usually for doors.
Word family
Commonly confused: mortise lock or rim lock?
mortise lock vs rim lock
A rim lock is fixed to the surface of a door and is visible; a mortise lock is mostly hidden inside the door.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'mortise lock' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A mortise lock is set into a cut pocket inside the door, so most of it is hidden. Option 0 describes a rim lock, which is surface-mounted. Option 2 confuses it with a padlock, and option 3 confuses the lock with a key.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mortise lock”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.