'Mortar piece' definitions:

Definition of 'Mortar piece'

From: GCIDE
  • Mortar \Mor"tar\, n. [OE. morter, AS. mort[=e]re, L. mortarium: cf. F. mortier mortar. Cf. sense 2 (below), also 2d Mortar, Martel, Morter.]
  • 1. A strong vessel, commonly in form of an inverted bell, in which substances are pounded or rubbed with a pestle. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. [F. mortier, fr. L. mortarium mortar (for trituarating).] (Mil.) A short piece of ordnance, used for throwing bombs, carcasses, shells, etc., at high angles of elevation, as 45[deg], and even higher; -- so named from its resemblance in shape to the utensil above described. [1913 Webster]
  • Mortar bed (Mil.), a framework of wood and iron, suitably hollowed out to receive the breech and trunnions of a mortar.
  • Mortar boat or Mortar vessel (Naut.), a boat strongly built and adapted to carrying a mortar or mortars for bombarding; a bomb ketch.
  • Mortar piece, a mortar. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]