מַכְתֶּשֶׁת f. (preced.) 1) mortar. B. Bath. IV, 3 המ׳ הקבועה the stationary mortar in the house. Ib. 65ᵇ; Tosaf. ib. III, 1 המ׳ חקוקה a mortar hewn out of a rock in the house. Taan. 28ᵃ; a. fr. —2) cavity. Tosef. Nidd. VIII, 6; Nidd. 61ᵃ מ׳ מלאה עצמות a hole in the ground full of bones.