| mattages | <zoology> A shrike or butcher bird; written also matagasse. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| matte | 1. <chemistry> A partly reduced copper sulphide, obtained by alternately roasting and melting copper ore in separating the metal from associated iron ores, and called coarse metal, fine metal, etc, according to the grade of fineness. On the exterior it is dark brown or black, but on a fresh surface is yellow or bronzy in colour. 2. A dead or dull finish, as in gilding where the gold leaf is not burnished, or in painting where the surface is purposely deprived of gloss. Origin: F. Matte; cf. F. Mat, masc, matte, fem, faint, dull, dim; said of metals. See Mate checkmate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| matted | Having a dull surface; unburnished; as, matted gold leaf or gilding. Matted glass, glass ornamented with figures on a dull ground. See: Matte. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| matter | <chemistry> The material of the universe. (09 Jan 1998) |
| matter, gray | The cortex of the brain which contains nerve cell bodies. The gray matter is as opposed to the white matter, the part of the brain that contains myelinated nerve fibres. The gray matter is so named because it in fact appears gray. In the mysterious affair at styles (1920), agatha christie first quoted the fictional belgian detective hercule poirot in regard to his gray matter: 'this affair must be unravelled from within.' he tapped his forehead. 'these little grey cells. It is up to them as you say over here.' (12 Dec 1998) |
| matter, white | The part of the brain that contains myelinated nerve fibres. The white matter is white because it is the colour of myelin, the insulation covering the nerve fibres. The white matter is as opposed to the gray matter (the cortex of the brain which contains nerve cell bodies). (12 Dec 1998) |
| mattowacca | <zoology> An American clupeoid fish (Clupea mediocris), similar to the shad in habits and appearance, but smaller and less esteemed for food. Synonym: hickory shad, tailor shad, fall herring, and shad herring. Origin: Indian name. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| 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) |
| 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) |