/mɔːˈtɛːrɪə/, U.S. /mɔrˈtɛriə/.mortariumn.
/mɔːˈtɛːrɪəm/, U.S. /mɔrˈtɛriəm//mɔːˈtɛːrɪə/, U.S. /mɔrˈtɛriə/. Archaeology.
An ancient Roman vessel for pounding or grinding; a mortar.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > equipment for altering consistency > [noun] > crushing or grinding > mortar
mortareOE
mortar stone1480
mortle1570
mortesse1614
mortarium1842
pounder1891
1842 W. Smith Dict. Greek & Rom. Antiq. 622/1 Mortarium, also called Pila and Pilum.
1863 W. Chaffers Marks & Monograms Pottery & Porcelain 18 Fig. 24 is a mortarium; 10¾ inches diameter, of light brown ware, unglazed... Mortaria are sometimes found of the red lustrous ware, called Samian.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 3 Feb. 11/4 A Roman pestle and mortarium, earthenware pots, tiles, and bottles..have been brought to light.
1937 Discovery Apr. 98/1 They have unearthed..bits of a mortarium.
1977 Antiquaries Jrnl. 57 264 Bricks and tegulae can frequently be seen..and more rarely mortaria or other coarse vessels.
1999 Oxoniensia 63 208 The Roman sherds include an Oxfordshire whiteware mortarium dating to the period AD 240-300.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1842