Chapter 954

Mas"ti*cate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Masticated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Masticating (?) .] [L. masticatus , p. p. of masticare to chew, prob. fr. mastiche mastic. See Mastic .] To grind or crush with, or as with, the teeth and prepare for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, to masticate food .

Masticater <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*ca`ter (?) , n. One who masticates.

Mastication <Xpage=900>

Mas`ti*ca"tion (?) , n. [L. masticatio : cf. F. mastication .] The act or operation of masticating; chewing, as of food.

Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid aliment, without which there can be no good digestion. Arbuthnot.

Masticator <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*ca`tor (?) , n. 1. One who masticates.

2. A machine for cutting meat into fine pieces for toothless people; also, a machine for cutting leather, India rubber, or similar tough substances, into fine pieces, in some processes of manufacture.

Masticatory <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*ca*to*ry (?) , a. [Cf. F. masticatoire .] Chewing; adapted to perform the office o<?/ chewing food.

Masticatory <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*ca*to*ry , n. ; pl. -ries (<?/) . (Med.) A substance to be chewed to increase the saliva.

Bacon.

Mastich <Xpage=900>

Mas"tich (?) , n. See Mastic .

Masticin <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*cin (?) , n. (Chem.) A white, amorphous, tenacious substance resembling caoutchouc, and obtained as an insoluble residue of mastic.

Masticot <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*cot (?) , n. (Chem.) Massicot. [Obs.]

Mastiff <Xpage=900>

Mas"tiff (?) , n. ; pl. Mastiffs (<?/) . [ Mastives is irregular and unusual.] [Prob. fr. Prov. E. masty , adj., large, n., a great dog, prob. fr. mast fruit, and hence, lit., fattened with mast. There is perh. confusion with OF. mestif mongrel; cf. also F. m\'83tin mastiff, OF. mastin .] (Zo\'94l.) A breed of large dogs noted for strength and courage. There are various strains, differing in form and color, and characteristic of different countries.

Mastiff bat (Zo\'94l.) , any bat of the genus Molossus ; so called because the face somewhat resembles that of a mastiff.

Mastigopod <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*go*pod (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the Mastigopoda.

Mastigopoda <Xpage=900>

Mas`ti*gop"o*da (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, <?/, a whip + <?/, <?/, foot.] (Zo\'94l.) The Infusoria.

Mastigure <Xpage=900>

Mas"ti*gure (?) , n. [Gr. <?/., <?/, a scourge + <?/ tail.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several large spiny-tailed lizards of the genus Uromastix . They inhabit Southern Asia and North Africa.

Masting <Xpage=900>

Mast"ing (?) , n. (Naut.) The act or process of putting a mast or masts into a vessel; also, the scientific principles which determine the position of masts, and the mechanical methods of placing them.

Masting house (Naut.) , a large building, with suitable mechanism overhanging the water, used for stepping and unstepping the masts of vessels.

Mastitis <Xpage=900>

Mas*ti"tis (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ breast + -itis .] (Med.) Inflammation of the breast.

Mastless <Xpage=900>

Mast"less (?) , a. [See lst Mast .] Bearing no mast; as, a mastless oak or beech .

Dryden.

Mastless <Xpage=900>

Mast"less , a. [See 2d Mast .] Having no mast; as, a mastless vessel .

<page="901"> Page 901

Mastlin <Xpage=901>

Mast"lin (?) , n. See Maslin .

Mastodon <Xpage=901>

Mas"to*don (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ the breast + <?/, <?/, a tooth. So called from the conical projections upon its molar teeth.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of mammals closely allied to the elephant, but having less complex molar teeth, and often a pair of lower, as well as upper, tusks, which are incisor teeth. The species were mostly larger than elephants, and their romains occur in nearly all parts of the world in deposits ranging from Miocene to late Quaternary time.

Mastodonsaurus <Xpage=901>

Mas`to*don*sau"rus (?) , n. [NL., fr. E. Mastodon + Gr. <?/ a lizard.] (Paleon.) A large extinct genus of labyrinthodonts, found in the European Triassic rocks.

Mastodontic <Xpage=901>

Mas`to*don"tic (?) , a. Pertaining to, or resembling, a mastodon; as, mastodontic dimensions .

Everett.

Mastodynia, Mastodyny <Xpage=901>

Mas`to*dyn"i*a (?) , Mas*tod"y*ny (<?/) , n. [NL. mastodynia , fr. Gr. <?/ the breast + <?/ pain.] (Med.) Pain occuring in the mamma or female breast, -- a form of neuralgia.

Mastoid <Xpage=901>

Mas"toid (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ the breast + <?/ form: cf. F. masto\'8bde .] (Anat.) (a) Resembling the nipple or the breast; -- applied specifically to a process of the temporal bone behind the ear. (b) Pertaining to, or in the region of, the mastoid process; mastoidal.

Mastoidal <Xpage=901>

Mas*toid"al (?) , a. Same as Mastoid .

Mastology <Xpage=901>

Mas*tol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ the breast + -logy : cf. F. mastologie .] The natural history of Mammalia.

Mastress <Xpage=901>

Mas"tress (?) , n. Mistress. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Masturbation <Xpage=901>

Mas`tur*ba"tion (?) , n. [L. masturbatus , p. p. of masturbari to practice onanism: cf. F. masturbation .] Onanism; self-pollution.

Masty <Xpage=901>

Mast"y (?) , a. [See lst Mast .] Full of mast; abounding in acorns, etc.

Masula boat <Xpage=901>

Ma*su"la boat` (?) . Same as Masoola boat .

Mat <Xpage=901>

Mat (?) , n. [Cf. Matte .] A name given by coppersmiths to an alloy of copper, tin, iron, etc., usually called white metal . [Written also matt .]

Mat <Xpage=901>

Mat , a. [OF. See 4th Mate .] Cast down; dejected; overthrown; slain. [Obs.]

When he saw them so piteous and so maat . Chaucer.

Mat <Xpage=901>

Mat , n. [AS. matt , meatt , fr. L. 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 . (Bot.) (a) A low, tufted, European grass ( Nardus stricta ) . (b) Same as Matweed . -- Mat rush (Bot.) , a kind of rush ( Scirpus lacustris ) used in England for making mats.

Mat <Xpage=901>

Mat , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Matted (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. 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 <Xpage=901>

Mat , v. i. To grow thick together; to become interwoven or felted together like a mat.

Matachin <Xpage=901>

Ma`ta*chin" (?) , n. [Sp.] An old dance with swords and bucklers; a sword dance.

Mataco <Xpage=901>

Mat"a*co (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The three-banded armadillo ( Tolypeutis tricinctus ). See Illust . under Loricata .

Matadore, Matador <Xpage=901>

Mat"a*dore , Mat"a*dor (?) , n. [Sp. matador , prop., a killer, fr. matar to kill, L. 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 <Xpage=901>

Mat`a*gasse" (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A shrike or butcher bird; -- called also mattages . [Prov. Eng.]

Matamata <Xpage=901>

Ma`ta*ma"ta (?) , n. [Pg.] (Zo\'94l.) The bearded tortoise ( Chelys fimbriata ) of South American rivers.

Matanza <Xpage=901>

Ma*tan"za (?) , n. [Sp., slaughter, fr. matar to kill.] A place where animals are slaughtered for their hides and tallow. [Western U. S.]

Match <Xpage=901>

Match (?) , n. [OE. macche , F. m\'8ache , F. m\'8ache , fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. <?/ mucus, nostril, a lamp nozzle. Cf. 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 <Xpage=901>

Match , n. [OE. macche , AS. gem\'91cca ; akin to gemaca , and to OS. gimako , OHG. gimah fitting, suitable, convenient, Icel. mark suitable, maki mate, Sw. make , Dan. mage ; all from the root of E. make , v. See Make mate, and Make , v. , and cf. 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 (Mach.) , a cogwheel of suitable pitch to work with another wheel; specifically, one of a pair of cogwheels of equal size.

Match <Xpage=901>

Match , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Matched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. 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 <Xpage=901>

Match , v. i. 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 .

Matchable <Xpage=901>

Match"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being matched; comparable on equal conditions; adapted to being joined together; correspondent. -- Match"a*ble*ness , n.

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

Match-cloth <Xpage=901>

Match"-cloth` (?) , n. A coarse cloth.

Match-coat <Xpage=901>

Match"-coat` (?) , n. A coat made of match-cloth.

Matcher <Xpage=901>

Match"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, matches; a matching machine. See under 3d Match .

Matchless <Xpage=901>

Match"less , a. [Cf. Mateless .]

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

Waller.

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

Spenser.

-- Match"less*ly , adv. -- Match"less*ness , n.

Matchlock <Xpage=901>

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

Matchmaker <Xpage=901>

Match"mak`er (?) , n. 1. One who makes matches for burning or kinding.

2. One who tries to bring about marriages.

Matchmaking <Xpage=901>

Match"mak`ing , n. 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 <Xpage=901>

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

Mate <Xpage=901>

Ma"te (?) , n. [Sp.] 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 <Xpage=901>

Mate (?) , n. [F. mat , abbrev. fr. \'82chec et mat . See Checkmate .] (Chess) Same as Checkmate .

Mate <Xpage=901>

Mate , a. See 2d Mat . [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Mate <Xpage=901>

Mate , v. t. [F. mater to fatigue, enfeeble, humiliate, checkmate. See Mate checkmate.]

1. To confuse; to confound. [Obs.]

Shak.

2. To checkmate.

Mate <Xpage=901>

Mate , n. [Perhaps for older make a companion; cf. also OD. maet companion, mate, D. maat . Cf. 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. (Naut.) 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 <Xpage=901>

Mate , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mated ; p. pr. & vb. n. 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 <Xpage=901>

Mate , v. i. 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.

Mateless <Xpage=901>

Mate"less , a. [Cf. Matchless .] Having no mate.

Matelote <Xpage=901>

Mat"e*lote (?) , n. [F., fr. matelot a sailor; properly, a dish such as sailors prepare.] A dish of food composed of many kings of fish.

Mateology <Xpage=901>

Ma`te*ol"o*gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/ useless, vain + <?/ discourse: cf. F. mat\'82ologie .] A vain, unprofitable discourse or inquiry. [R.]

Mateotechny <Xpage=901>