General
mort
What does mort mean?
A 'walking mort' — an unmarried vagabond woman who tramped the roads with the crew.
"Harman set down the tale of a walking mort who outwitted a lecherous man."
Origin
Recorded by Harman (1566) and throughout later canting glossaries (B.E. 1699, Grose 1785). 'Walking mort' and 'autem mort' are his named sub-ranks; the bare origin of 'mort' is uncertain, though much guessed at.
Frequently asked questions
What does mort mean in thieves' cant?
A woman — the general canting word, with 'walking mort' (unwed tramp) and 'autem mort' (married woman) as named sub-types in Harman.
What is an autem mort?
A married woman; 'autem' was cant for church, so an autem mort was one wed in church.
Where does mort come from?
It appears from Harman (1566) onward, but the true root is uncertain and was never reliably settled.
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