Masula boat Ma·su"la boat` Same as Masoola boat .

Mat Mat noun [ Confer Matte .] A name given by coppersmiths to an alloy of copper, tin, iron, etc., usually called white metal . [ Written also matt .]

Mat Mat adjective [ Old French See 4th Mate .] Cast down; dejected; overthrown; slain. [ Obsolete]

When he saw them so piteous and so maat .

Chaucer.

Mat Mat noun [ Anglo-Saxon matt , meatt , from Latin matta a mat made of rushes.] 1. A fabric of sedge, rushes, flags, husks, straw, hemp, or similar material, used for wiping and cleaning shoes at the door, for covering the floor of a hall or room, and for other purposes.

2. Any similar fabric for various uses, as for covering plant houses, putting beneath dishes or lamps on a table, securing rigging from friction, and the like.

3. Anything growing thickly, or closely interwoven, so as to resemble a mat in form or texture; as, a mat of weeds; a mat of hair.

4. An ornamental border made of paper, pasterboard, metal, etc., put under the glass which covers a framed picture; as, the mat of a daguerreotype.

Mat grass . (Botany) (a) A low, tufted, European grass ( Nardus stricta ) . (b) Same as Matweed . -- Mat rush (Botany) , a kind of rush ( Scirpus lacustris ) used in England for making mats.

Mat Mat transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Matted ; present participle & verbal noun Matting .] 1. To cover or lay with mats. Evelyn.

2. To twist, twine, or felt together; to interweave into, or like, a mat; to entangle.

And o'er his eyebrows hung his matted hair.

Dryden.

Mat Mat intransitive verb To grow thick together; to become interwoven or felted together like a mat.

Matabele, Matabeles Mat`a·be"le, Mat`a·be"les noun plural , sing. Matabele . [ Written also Matabili .] (Ethnol.) A warlike South African Kaffir tribe.

Matachin Ma`ta·chin" noun [ Spanish ] An old dance with swords and bucklers; a sword dance.

Mataco Mat"a·co noun (Zoology) The three-banded armadillo ( Tolypeutis tricinctus ). See Illust. under Loricata .

Matador Mat"a·dor noun 1. [ Skat] The jack of clubs, or any other trump held in sequence with it, whether by the player or by his adversaries.

2. A certain game of dominoes in which four dominoes (the 4-3, 5-2, 6-1, and double blank), called matadors , may be played at any time in any way.

Matadore, Matador Mat"a·dore, Mat"a·dor noun [ Spanish matador , prop., a killer, from matar to kill, Latin mactare to sacrifice, kill.] 1. The killer; the man appointed to kill the bull in bullfights.

2. (Card Playing) In the game of quadrille or omber, the three principal trumps, the ace of spades being the first, the ace of clubs the third, and the second being the deuce of a black trump or the seven of a red one.

When Lady Tricksey played a four,
You took it with a matadore .

Swift.

Matagasse Mat`a·gasse" noun (Zoology) A shrike or butcher bird; -- called also mattages . [ Prov. Eng.]

Matajuelo Ma`ta·jue"lo (mä`tȧ*hwā"lō; 239) noun [ Confer Spanish matajudío a kind of fish.] A large squirrel fish ( Holocentrus ascensionis ) of Florida and the West Indies.

Matajuelo blanco Ma`ta·jue"lo blan"co [ Spanish blanco white.] A West Indian food fish ( Malacanthus plumieri ) related to the tilefish.

Matamata Ma`ta·ma"ta noun [ Portuguese ] (Zoology) The bearded tortoise ( Chelys fimbriata ) of South American rivers.

Matanza Ma·tan"za noun [ Spanish , slaughter, from matar to kill.] A place where animals are slaughtered for their hides and tallow. [ Western U. S.]

Match Match (măch) noun [ Middle English macche , French mèche , French mèche , from Latin myxa a lamp nozzle, Greek my`xa mucus, nostril, a lamp nozzle. Confer Mucus .] Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium.

Match box , a box for holding matches. - - Match tub , a tub with a perforated cover for holding slow matches for firing cannon, esp. on board ship. The tub contains a little water in the bottom, for extinguishing sparks from the lighted matches. -- Quick match , threads of cotton or cotton wick soaked in a solution of gunpowder mixed with gum arabic and boiling water and afterwards strewed over with mealed powder. It burns at the rate of one yard in thirteen seconds, and is used as priming for heavy mortars, fireworks, etc. -- Slow match , slightly twisted hempen rope soaked in a solution of limewater and saltpeter or washed in a lye of water and wood ashes. It burns at the rate of four or five inches an hour, and is used for firing cannon, fireworks, etc.

Match Match noun [ Middle English macche , Anglo-Saxon gemæcca ; akin to gemaca , and to Old Saxon gimako , Old High German gimah fitting, suitable, convenient, Icelandic mark suitable, maki mate, Swedish make , Danish mage ; all from the root of English make , v. See Make mate, and Make , v. , and confer Mate an associate.]

1. A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate.

Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects.

Addison.

2. A bringing together of two parties suited to one another, as for a union, a trial of skill or force, a contest, or the like ; as, specifically: (a) A contest to try strength or skill, or to determine superiority; an emulous struggle. "Many a warlike match ." Drayton.

A solemn match was made; he lost the prize.

Dryden.

(b) A matrimonial union; a marriage.

3. An agreement, compact, etc. "Thy hand upon that match ." Shak.

Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making.

Boyle.

4. A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage. "She . . . was looked upon as the richest match of the West." Clarendon.

5. Equality of conditions in contest or competition.

It were no match , your nail against his horn.

Shak.

6. Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match .

7. (Founding) A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly imbedded when a mold is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mold.

Match boarding (Carp.) , boards fitted together with tongue and groove, or prepared to be so fitted. -- Match game , a game arranged as a test of superiority. -- Match plane (Carp.) , either of the two planes used to shape the edges of boards which are joined by grooving and tonguing. -- Match plate (Founding) , a board or plate on the opposite sides of which the halves of a pattern are fastened, to facilitate molding. Knight. -- Match wheel (Machinery) , a cogwheel of suitable pitch to work with another wheel; specifically, one of a pair of cogwheels of equal size.

Match Match transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Matched ; present participle & verbal noun Matching .] 1. To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal.

No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness.

Shak.

2. To furnish with its match; to bring a match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set something in competition with, or in opposition to, as equal.

No history or antiquity can match is policies and his conduct.

South.

3. To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against.

Eternal might
To match with their inventions they presumed
So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn.

Milton.

4. To make or procure the equal of, or that which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match a vase or a horse; to match cloth. " Matching of patterns and colors." Swift.

5. To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another).

Let poets match their subject to their strength.

Roscommon.

6. To marry; to give in marriage.

A senator of Rome survived,
Would not have matched his daughter with a king.

Addison.

7. To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a groove, at the edges; as, to match boards.

Matching machine , a planing machine for forming a tongue or a groove on the edge of a board.

Match Match intransitive verb 1. To be united in marriage; to mate.

I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.

Shak.

Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep.

Dryden.

2. To be of equal, or similar, size, figure, color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases match .

Match game Match game A game arranged as a test of superiority; also, one of a series of such games.

Match play Match play (Golf) Play in which the score is reckoned by counting the holes won or lost by each side; -- disting. from medal play .

Match-cloth Match"-cloth` noun A coarse cloth.

Match-coat Match"-coat` noun A coat made of match-cloth.

Matchable Match"a·ble adjective Capable of being matched; comparable on equal conditions; adapted to being joined together; correspondent. -- Match"a*ble*ness , noun

Sir Walter Raleigh . . . is matchable with the best of the ancients.

Hakewill.

Matcher Match"er noun One who, or that which, matches; a matching machine. See under 3d Match .

Matchless Match"less adjective [ Confer Mateless .]

1. Having no equal; unequaled. "A matchless queen." Waller.

2. Unlike each other; unequal; unsuited. [ Obsolete] " Matchless ears." Spenser.

-- Match"less*ly , adverb -- Match"less*ness , noun

Matchlock Match"lock` noun An old form of gunlock containing a match for firing the priming; hence, a musket fired by means of a match.

Matchmaker Match"mak`er noun 1. One who makes matches for burning or kinding.

2. One who tries to bring about marriages.

Matchmaking Match"mak`ing noun 1. The act or process of making matches for kindling or burning.

2. The act or process of trying to bring about a marriage for others.

Matchmaking Match"mak`ing adjective Busy in making or contriving marriages; as, a matchmaking woman.

Mate Ma"te noun [ Spanish ] The Paraguay tea, being the dried leaf of the Brazilian holly ( Ilex Paraguensis ). The infusion has a pleasant odor, with an agreeable bitter taste, and is much used for tea in South America.

Mate Mate noun [ French mat , abbrev. from échec et mat . See Checkmate .] (Chess) Same as Checkmate .

Mate Mate adjective See 2d Mat . [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Mate Mate transitive verb [ French mater to fatigue, enfeeble, humiliate, checkmate. See Mate checkmate.]

1. To confuse; to confound. [ Obsolete] Shak.

2. To checkmate.

Mate Mate noun [ Perhaps for older make a companion; confer also OD. maet companion, mate, Dutch maat . Confer Make a companion, Match a mate.] 1. One who customarily associates with another; a companion; an associate; any object which is associated or combined with a similar object.

2. Hence, specifically, a husband or wife; and among the lower animals, one of a pair associated for propagation and the care of their young.

3. A suitable companion; a match; an equal.

Ye knew me once no mate
For you; there sitting where you durst not soar.

Milton.

4. (Nautical) An officer in a merchant vessel ranking next below the captain. If there are more than one bearing the title, they are called, respectively, first mate , second mate , third mate , etc. In the navy, a subordinate officer or assistant; as, master's mate ; surgeon's mate .

Mate Mate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Mated ; present participle & verbal noun Mating .] 1. To match; to marry.

If she be mated with an equal husband.

Shak.

2. To match one's self against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.

There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death.

Bacon.

I, . . . in the way of loyalty and truth, . . .
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be.

Shak.

Mate Mate intransitive verb To be or become a mate or mates, especially in sexual companionship; as, some birds mate for life; this bird will not mate with that one.

Matelassé Mate`las`sé" adjective [ French, p.p. of matelasser to cushion, to cover as with a mattress, from matelas mattress. See Mattress .] Ornamented by means of an imitation or suggestion of quilting, the surface being marked by depressed lines which form squares or lozenges in relief; as, matelassé silks.

Matelassé Mate`las`sé" noun A quilted ornamented dress fabric of silk or silk and wool.

Mateless Mate"less adjective [ Confer Matchless .] Having no mate.

Matelote Mat"e·lote (măt"e*lōt) noun [ French, from matelot a sailor; properly, a dish such as sailors prepare.] A dish of food composed of many kinds of fish.

Matelote, Matelotte Mat"e·lote, Mat"e·lotte noun [ French matelote , from matelot a sailor; properly, a dish such as a sailors prepare.] 1. A stew, commonly of fish, flavored with wine, and served with a wine sauce containing onions, mushrooms, etc.

2. An old dance of sailors, in double time, and somewhat like a hornpipe.

Mateology Ma`te·ol"o·gy (mā`te*ŏl"o*jȳ) noun [ Greek mataiologi`a ; ma`taios useless, vain + lo`gos discourse: confer French matéologie .] A vain, unprofitable discourse or inquiry. [ R.]

Mateotechny Ma`te·o·tech"ny (mā`te*o*tĕk"nȳ) noun [ Greek mataiotechni`a ; ma`taios vain + te`chnh art, science.] Any unprofitable science. [ Obsolete]

Mater Ma"ter noun [ Latin , mother. See Mother .] See Alma mater , Dura mater , and Pia mater .

Materia medica Ma·te"ri·a med"i·ca [ Latin See Matter , and Medical .] 1. Material or substance used in the composition of remedies; -- a general term for all substances used as curative agents in medicine.

2. That branch of medical science which treats of the nature and properties of all the substances that are employed for the cure of diseases.

Material Ma·te"ri·al adjective [ Latin materialis , from materia stuff, matter: confer French matériel . See Matter , and confer MatÉriel .]

1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies.

The material elements of the universe.

Whewell.

2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts.

3. Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of consequence; not be dispensed with; important.

Discourse, which was always material , never trifling.

Evelyn.

I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose.

Locke.

4. (Logic.) Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter .

Material cause . See under Cause . -- Material evidence (Law) , evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis. Wharton.

Syn. -- Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous; essential.

Material Ma·te"ri·al noun The substance or matter of which anything is made or may be made.

Raw material , any crude, unfinished, or elementary materials that are adapted to use only by processes of skilled labor. Cotton, wool, ore, logs, etc., are raw material .

Material Ma·te"ri·al transitive verb To form from matter; to materialize. [ Obsolete] Sir T. Browne.

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