Part 6875

<h1>Matachin</h1> <Xpage=901>

<hw>Ma`ta*chin"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Sp.]</ety> <def>An old dance with swords and bucklers; a sword dance.</def>

<h1>Mataco</h1> <Xpage=901>

<hw>Mat"a*co</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The three-banded armadillo (<spn>Tolypeutis tricinctus</spn>). See <i>Illust</i>. under <er>Loricata</er>.</def>

<h1>Matadore, Matador</h1> <Xpage=901>

<hw><hw>Mat"a*dore</hw>, <hw>Mat"a*dor</hw><hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Sp. <ets>matador</ets>, prop., a killer, fr. <ets>matar</ets> to kill, L. <ets>mactare</ets> to sacrifice, kill.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The killer; the man appointed to kill the bull in bullfights.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Card Playing)</fld> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>When Lady Tricksey played a four, You took it with a <b>matadore</b>. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Matagasse</h1> <Xpage=901>

<hw>Mat`a*gasse"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A shrike or butcher bird; -- called also <altname>mattages</altname>.</def> <mark>[Prov. Eng.]</mark>

<h1>Matamata</h1> <Xpage=901>

<hw>Ma`ta*ma"ta</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Pg.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>The bearded tortoise (<spn>Chelys fimbriata</spn>) of South American rivers.</def>

<h1>Matanza</h1> <Xpage=901>

<hw>Ma*tan"za</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Sp., slaughter, fr. <ets>matar</ets> to kill.]</ety> <def>A place where animals are slaughtered for their hides and tallow.</def> <mark>[Western U. S.]</mark>

<h1>Match</h1> <Xpage=901>

<hw>Match</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>macche</ets>, F. <ets>m\'8ache</ets>, F. <ets>m\'8ache</ets>, fr. L. <ets>myxa</ets> a lamp nozzle, Gr. <?/ mucus, nostril, a lamp nozzle. Cf. <er>Mucus</er>.]</ety> <def>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.</def>

<cs><col>Match box</col>, <cd>a box for holding matches.</cd> -- <col>Match tub</col>, <cd>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.</cd> -- <col>Quick match</col>, <cd>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.</cd> -- <col>Slow match</col>, <cd>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.</cd></cs>

<h1>Match</h1> <Xpage=901>

<hw>Match</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>macche</ets>, AS. <ets>gem\'91cca</ets>; akin to <ets>gemaca</ets>, and to OS. <ets>gimako</ets>, OHG. <ets>gimah</ets> fitting, suitable, convenient, Icel. <ets>mark</ets> suitable, <ets>maki</ets> mate, Sw. <ets>make</ets>, Dan. <ets>mage</ets>; all from the root of E. <ets>make</ets>, v. See <er>Make</er> mate, and <er>Make</er>, <tt>v.</tt>, and cf. <er>Mate</er> an associate.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate.</def>

<blockquote>Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a <b>match</b> for the mightiest of his fellow subjects. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>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</def>; as, specifically: <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A contest to try strength or skill, or to determine superiority; an emulous struggle.</def> "Many a warlike <i>match</i>." <i>Drayton.</i>

<blockquote>A solemn <b>match</b> was made; he lost the prize. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(b)</sd> <def>A matrimonial union; a marriage.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>An agreement, compact, etc.</def> "Thy hand upon that <i>match</i>."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other <b>matches</b> than those of its own making. <i>Boyle.</i></blockquote>