| mattress | Origin: OF. Materas, F. Matelas, LL. Matratium; cf. Sp. & Pg. Almadraque, Pr. Almatrac; all from Ar. Ma<tsdot/rah a place where anything is thrown, what is thrown under something, fr. <tsdot/araha to throw. 1. A quilted bed; a bed stuffed with hair, moss, or other suitable material, and quilted or otherwise fastened. Alternative forms: matress. 2. <physics> A mass of interwoven brush, poles, etc, to protect a bank from being worn away by currents or waves. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| mattress suture | A suture utilizing a double stitch that forms a loop about the tissue on both sides of a wound, producing eversion of the edges when tied. Synonym: quilted suture. (05 Mar 2000) |
| end-on mattress suture | A vertical mattress suture used for exact skin approximation. (05 Mar 2000) |