Mat"ting, n. [See Matte.] A dull, lusterless surface in certain of the
arts, as gilding, metal work, glassmaking, etc.
Mat"tock (?), n. [AS. mattuc; cf. W. matog.] An implement for digging
and grubbing. The head has two long steel blades, one like an adz and
the other like a narrow ax or the point of a pickax.
'T is you must dig with mattock and with spade.
Shak.
Mat`to*wac"ca (?), n. [Indian name.] (Zoöl.) An American clupeoid fish
(Clupea mediocris), similar to the shad in habits and appearance, but
smaller and less esteemed for food; -- called also hickory shad, tailor
shad, fall herring, and shad herring.
Mat"tress (?), n. [OF. materas, F. matelas, LL. matratium; cf. Sp. &
Pg. almadraque, Pr. almatrac; all from Ar. marah a place where anything
is thrown, what is thrown under something, fr. araha to throw.]
1. A quilted bed; a bed stuffed with hair, moss, or other suitable
material, and quilted or otherwise fastened. [Written also matress.]
2. (Hydraulic Engin.) A mass of interwoven brush, poles, etc., to
protect a bank from being worn away by currents or waves.
Mat"u*rant (?), n. [L. maturans, p. pr. See Maturate.] (Med.) A
medicine, or application, which promotes suppuration.
Mat"u*rate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maturated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Maturating (?).] [L. maturatus, p. p. of maturare to make ripe, fr.
maturus ripe, mature. See Mature, v. & a.] 1. To bring to ripeness or
maturity; to ripen.
A tree may be maturated artificially.
Fuller.