מַכְתֵּש

מַכְתֵּשm. (b. h.; כָּתַש) 1) mortar. Y.Peah II, 17a top, v. כָּתַש. 2) mortar-shaped cavity; 3) jaw. Gen. R. s. 98 (expl. Jud. 15:19) המקום ההוא מ׳ שמו that place was named Makhtesh (Cavity); ib. מלמד שהביא לווכ׳ it intimates that the Lord opened to him a spring from between his (the ass) teeth (taking מ׳ as jaw). 4) an instrument of torture. Tosef.Kel.B. Mets.VII, 8, v. פֶּתִי. Pesik. Shek. p. 15a>, v. חֲמוֹר.