What does mortarboard mean?
A mortarboard is best known as the square, flat-topped academic cap worn by graduates at university ceremonies and similar formal occasions. It is often used with “gown” in the familiar expression “cap and gown,” although “mortarboard” is the more precise name for the cap itself. The word also has a practical technical meaning: a flat board used to mix mortar, cement, or other binding materials in masonry. The academic sense became dominant because the cap’s shape resembles a mortarboard. In general use, the term carries a formal and ceremonial association, while the construction sense is primarily encountered in building and engineering contexts.
nounA mortarboard is a formal academic cap with a flat, square top and a tassel, worn at graduations and other ceremonial academic occasions. The word can also refer to a flat board used for mixing mortar.
- A formal academic cap with a flat, square top and a tassel, traditionally worn by graduates.
- A flat board on which mortar or similar material is mixed.
"The graduates wore mortarboards as they crossed the stage to receive their diplomas."
"The headmaster appeared in a black gown and mortarboard."
"The mason used a mortarboard to mix the cement before applying it to the wall."
Used for both academic caps and boards for mixing mortar or similar materials.
"Rows of mortarboards filled the stadium as the ceremony began."
A mortarboard takes its name from the board used to mix mortar, and its academic form echoes the square, flat shape of that tool.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mortarboard come from?
The compound combines “mortar” with “board,” originally referring to a board on which mortar could be mixed. Its academic-cap sense developed from the cap’s flat, square shape, which resembles that masonry tool. The word ultimately draws on the Latin “mortarium,” a vessel or mortar used for grinding and mixing materials. The related forms “mortar” and “mortarium” preserve the same semantic and etymological association.
How mortarboard is actually used
The academic sense is the dominant modern use. The term is especially associated with university graduation ceremonies, while the masonry sense is technical and less common.