How did early gunpowder weapons resemble a mortar and pestle?

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Early mortars used in siege warfare resembled the kitchen tool used to pulverize grain and chemicals because of their specific design features. These weapons featured a powder chamber of reduced diameter that was recessed into the breech, which gave them an appearance similar to the traditional vessel used with a pestle.1

Unlike longer cannons, these mortars were characterized by very wide bores and short barrels, further contributing to their physical resemblance to the household implement.12