mastodon 
now restricted to those of the tetralophodont 
series, such as M. avernensis of Europe. 
mastodont (mas'to-dont), a. and . [< mnxtn- 
(lnii(t-).] I. a. Having teeth like a mastodon ; 
tubercular, as a mastodon's tooth. 
II. ii. A mastodon. 
mastodontic (mas-to-don'tik), n. [< mattotUtnt 
+ -ic.] Of or pertaining to a mastodon ; resem- 
bling a mastodon ; of mammoth size : as, mas- 
toilontir dimensions. Everett. 
MastodontiiiEe (mas"to-don-ti'ne), n. pi. [NL., 
< Mastodon (-odont-) + -inas.~\ A subfamily of 
Eleplumtitlif typified by the genus Mastodon, 
distinguished from Kleplintitime by the charac- 
ter of the molar teeth : mastodons. The ridges 
of the molars increase in number by one or more on the 
successive teeth, and have more or fewer mammilliform 
Mastodon {Mastodon giganttus}. 
Skeleton discovered at Cohoes, New York, 1866; now in the State 
Museum of Natural History. Albany. 
tubercles, while the intervening valleys have little or no 
cement. Three genera are now recognized, called Trilo- 
phodon, Tetralophodon, and Pentalophodon by Falconer, 
the second of these terms being a synonym of Mastodon 
proper, and the first being the same as Tetracaulodon of 
Godman. 
mastodontine (mas-to-don' tin), a. Of or per- 
taining to the Mastodontinie : distinguished 
from elephantine in a technical sense. 
mastodynia (mas-to-din'i-ft), w. [NL., _< Gr. 
/iaar6f, the breast, + biU-vr/, pain.] In pathol., 
pain in the mammary gland. 
mastoid (mas'toid), a. and w. [< Gr. naaTou&ift, 
like the breast, < paoT6s, the breast, + e!of, 
form.] I. a. Teat-like; shaped like a nipple: 
specifically applied in anatomy to a part or pro- 
cess of the temporal bone, from its shape in man. 
See below Mastoid artery, a small branch of the pos- 
terior auricular artery ; also, a small branch of the occipi- 
tal artery which enters the mastoid foramen. Mastoid 
cells, a number of irregular spaces or cavities in the sub- 
stance of the mastoid process of the temporal bone, com- 
municating with one another and with the cavity of the 
tympanum. Mastoid foramen. See foramen. Mas- 
toid muscle, the sternoclidomastoideus. Mastoid pro- 
cess of the temporal bone, the mastoM. See cuts 1 and 2 
under */,"//. 
II. . 1. The mastoid part or process of the 
temporal bone : in adult man, a conical nipple- 
like bony prominence below and behind the 
orifice of the ear, to which the sternoclido- 
mastoid, trachelomastoid, digastric, and other 
muscles are attached, and which is grooved 
for the passage of the occipital artery, it is not 
a distinct element of the compound temporal bone, hav- 
ing no independent center of ossification, but is merely an 
outgrowth of the petrosal bone, forming with this the pe- 
tromastoid. It is scarcely recognizable in infanta. The 
interior is excavated by the numerous mastoid cells. 
2. A distinct bone of the skull of some of the 
lower vertebrates, regarded by Owen as homo- 
logous with the mammalian mastoid. 
mastoidea. ". Plural of mastoirfeitm. 
mastoideal (mas-toi'df-al), a. [< mastoidem + 
-al.] Same as mastotd. 
mastoidean (mas-toi'de-au), a. [< mastoideus 
+ -an.] Same as mastoid. 
mastoidei, w. Plural of maMoideus. 
mastoideum (mas-toi'de-um), .; pi. mastoidea 
(-a). [NL., neut. : see mastoideus.] The mas- 
toid, more fully called os mastoideum. 
mastoideus (mas-toi'de-us), .; pi. mastoidei 
(-1). [NL., < Gr. /iaar6(, breast, + fMof, form.] 
The sternoclidomastoideus. 
mastoiditis (mas-toi-dl'tis), w. [NL. ; < mastoi- 
i/i'iix + -iti.?.] In pathol., inflammation in the 
mastoid. 
mastoidohumeral (mas-toi-do-hu'me-ral), a. 
[< mastoid + humeral.'] Connecting the mas- 
toid part of the temporal bone with the hu- 
merus : as, the mastoidohumeral muscle of some 
animals. 
mastological (mas-to-loj'i-kal), a. [< mastol- 
".'/-.'/ + -ic-al.~\ Same as ma'inmalogieal. 
mastologist (mas-tol'o-jist), n. [< mantolog-y 
+ -int.'] Same as ma-mmalogisf. 
36S4 
mastology (mas-tol'p-ji), . [< Gr. /IWKJTOC, the 
breast, + -loyia, < fe-yetv, speak: see -ology.] 
Same as mammalogy. 
masto-OCCipital(mas"t6-ok-sip'i-tal), a. Same 
as mastoceipital. 
mastoparietal (mas"td-pa-ri'e-tal), a. [< mas- 
to(id) + parietal.] Common to the mastoid 
and the parietal bone : as, the mastoparietal 
suture. 
mastopathy (mas-top'a-thi), n. [< Gr. /taaruf, 
tlie breast, 4- -iradeia, (."iruffof, disease.] In pa- 
thol., disease of the mammary gland. 
mastotheca (mas-to-the'ka), n.; pi. mastotheca; 
(-se). [NL., < Gr.'/mo-roV,"the breast, + drjKrj, 
a receptacle : see tlicca.] A cutaneous pouch 
or fold of the skin in which the nipples of mam- 
mary glands are situated, as the marsupium or 
pouch of the marsupial mammals. 
mastotympanic (mas"to-tim-pan'ik), . [< 
masto(id) + tympanum + -ic.] A bone of the 
skull of some reptiles, which should correspond 
to the opisthotic quadrate of modern nomencla- 
ture. R. Owen. 
Mastozoa (mas-to-zo'a), w. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
ftaarof, breast, + Cv oll i an animal. ] Mammals ; 
the class of Mammalia. De Blainrille. 
mast-pocket (mast'pok"et), n. A heavy cast- 
ing under a wrecking-car, supported by a der- 
rick truss-rod, serving as a socket for the mast 
of a derrick to hold it upright. Car-Builder's 
Diet. 
mastresst, " An obsolete form of -mistress. 
mast-rope (mast'rop), . A rope used for send- 
ing a topmast or topgallantmast up or down 
mastroust, a. See masterous. 
mast-tree (mast'tre), n. 1. One of the trees 
which produce mast ; specifically, the cork-tree. 
2. In India, a tall tree, Polyaltltia ( Guatteria) 
longifo/ia, handsome and much planted along 
avenues: so named doubtless from its erect 
habit, its wood being useless. 
masturbate (mas'ter-bat), . . ; pret. and pp. 
masturbated, ppr. masturoatina. [< L. mastur- 
batits, pp. of masturbari, practise mastxirbation.] 
To commit self -abuse. 
masturbation (mas-ter-ba'shon), n. [< F. 
masturbation = Sp. masturbar.ion, < NL. mas- 
turbatio(n-), < L. mastxrbari : see masturbate.] 
Self-defilement: onanism. 
masturbational (mas-ter-ba'shou-al), a. [< 
masturbation + -al.] Pertaining to or caused 
by masturbation. 
masturbator (mas'ter-ba-tor), H. One who 
masturbates. 
masturbatory (mas'ter-ba-to-ri), a. [< mastur- 
bate + -or;/.] Concerned with the practice of 
masturbation. 
masty 1 (mas'ti), a. [< ME. musty; < mast? + 
-i/l.] Full of mast, or the fruit of the oak, 
beech, etc. 
Ye masty swyne, ye ydel wreches. 
Chaucer, House of Fame, I. 1777. 
masty' 2 t (mas'ti), n. [< ME. mastis, a mongrel, 
< OF. mestis, F. metis, mongrel: see mastiff. 
The ME. form seems to have been taken as 
a plural, whence the later assumed singular 
masty.] Same as mastiff. 
Not a masty upon the castle walls but shall bark too. 
Shirley, Maid's Revenge, iv. 1. 
The true-bred masty shows not his teeth, nor opens. 
Till he bites. The Unfortunate Usurper (1868). (Nares.) 
masuelt (mas-u-el'), w. [< OF. massuelle, masu- 
ele, moftiele, a mace, < masse, mace, a mace: see 
mace 1 .] A war-mace. Also spelled massuelle. 
masulan-boat, . See masoola-boat. 
mat 1 (mat), n. [< ME. matte, < AS. meatta = 
D. irt< = LG. matte = OHG. matta., MHG. matte, 
matze, G. matte = Sw. matta = Dan. matte = W. 
mat = Ir. mata = It. ma-tta (= OF., with change 
of initial in to n (as also in napkin, napery, as 
compared with map), nate, F. natte, > MLG. 
natte = ME. natte, natt, nat), < L. matta (ML. 
natta), a mat.] 1 . An article plaited or woven 
of more or less coarse material, as rushes, straw, 
coir, rope, twine, or thick woolen yarn, of vari- 
ous sizes and shapes according to the use to 
which it is to be put. Hats are especially used for 
covering r protecting floors, as door-mats for wiping the 
shoes upon, etc. A similar but usually lighter material 
used as packing, for covering floors or passages, etc., is 
called matting. The skin of an animal with thick hair or 
wool is sometimes used as a mat ; and articles serving as 
door-mats, and so called, are also made of india-rubber, 
and even of thin upright strips of steel. Table-mats are 
thin sheets or plates of straw or the like to set hot dishes 
upon. In Japan very thick soft mats, consisting of a wooden 
frame measuring about 6 feet by 3 feet, covered with straw 
matting and backed with closely packed drawn straws, are 
used for flooring, resting on posts, and on these the people 
matachin 
sit, eat, and sleep. In China and other Asiatic countries 
portable mats of about the same size are used for beds, and 
are commonly carried for that purpose in traveling. 
Jievtheles ther com to vs Jacobyns and other feynyd 
Cristen Peple of Sonndry Sectis, that browght to vs mattes 
ffor our mony to lye upon. 
Tarkinyton, Diarie of Eng. Travel], p. 24. 
The women and children in the west of Cornwall make 
mats of a small and fine kind of bents there growing, which 
serve to cover floors and walls. 
R. Carew, Survey of Cornwall. 
2. A web of rope-yarn used on ships to se- 
cure the standing rigging from the friction of 
the yards, etc. 3f. Matting; woven rushes or 
straw. 
I defy thee, 
Thou mock-made man of mat ! charge home, sirrah ! 
Fletcher, Bonduca, iv. 2. 
4. A structure of interwoven withes, weeds, 
brush, or the like, or of fascines, fastened with 
ropes and wires, used as a revetment on river- 
banks, etc.; a mattress. 5. A sack made of 
matting, such as are used to contain coffee or 
to coyer tea-chests; specifically, such a sack 
containing a certain quantity of coffee. 
The annual receipts of coffee landed at the warehouses 
in Brooklyn amount to about 2,500,000 mats. 
Evening Post, June 13, 1888. 
6. Anything closely set, dense, and thick : as, 
a mat of hair; a mat of weeds. 7. A piece of 
thick paper, cardboard, or other material placed 
for protection or ornament immediately under 
the glass in a picture-frame, with enough of 
the central part cut out for the proper display 
of the picture (usually a drawing, engraving, 
or photograph). 8. In lace-making, the solid or 
closely worked surface, as distinguished from 
the more open part. 
mat 1 (mat), v. ; pret. and pp. matted, ppr. mat- 
ting. [< mat 1 , n.] I. trans. 1. To cover or 
overlay with mats or matting. 
Keep the doors and windows of your conservatories 
well matted and guarded from the piercing air. 
Evelyn, Calendarium Hortense. 
2. To make like a mat; cause to resemble a 
mat; twist together; interweave like a mat; 
entangle: as, matted hair. 
The bank, with daffodillies dight. 
With grass like sleave was matted. 
Drayton, Quest of Cynthia. 
The fibers are matted as wool is in a hat. 
A". Grew, Cosmologia Sacra, i. 4. 
His locks were tangled, and his shaggy beard 
Matted with filth ; in all things else a Greek. 
Addison, JSneid, iii. 
II. intrans. To grow thick together ; become 
interwoven like a mat. 
mat 2 t, a. and r. An obsolete form of mate 2 . 
mat 3 (mat), a. and n. [Also matt; cf. F. matte, 
n.; < G. matt, dull, dim, dead (matt-gold, dead 
gold, matt-blau, pale blue, matt-bunsen, a bur- 
nisher, etc.), = E. mate 2 , ME. mate, mat, faint, 
dull, etc.: see mate 2 . The word mat 3 taken in 
artistic use from G., seems to be confused in 
part with mat 1 , n., paper or cardboard with a 
more or less dulled or roughened surface used 
to protect or set off a picture: see mat 1 , n., 7.] 
I. a. Having a dull or dead surface : unpolish- 
ed; lusterless: as, *a<gold; mat silver. 
Most kinds of varnish that will dry "bright" under 
ordinary circumstances will become matt if subjected to 
a chill, or to the action of damp during the drying. 
Sri. Amer., N. S., LVI. 297. 
II. . 1. A dull or dead surface, without lus- 
ter, produced in metals, as gold or silver, by 
special tools. 2. [< mafi, v.] An implement 
by which a mat surface is produced, as in gold 
or silver. 
A very coarse mat is used in representing velvet dra- 
pery. Society of Arts Jlep., I. 323. 
mat 3 (mat), r. /.; pret. and pp. matted, ppr. 
matting. [< mat 3 , a.] To produce a rough or 
unpolished surface on (metal), whether by 
means of a mat or by engraving with a sharp 
tool To mat in, to produce a roughened surface ground 
in metal-work. 
matachint,matachinet(mat-a-chen'),. [Also 
mattachin ; = F. niatasshis, < Sp. mafachiii. < 
Ar. motairajjihin, maskers, pi. of motawajjili, 
masked, < wajli, face.] A participant in an old 
comic dance performed by maskers in mock- 
military guise, originally with sword and buck- 
ler, and later with a wooden sword or some oth- 
er sham weapon; also, the dance itself, and the 
kind of mask or domino worn in it. The dance 
became a mere display of tumbling or acrobatic 
feats. 
Lod. We have brought you a mask. 
Flam. A matacliin it seems, by your drawn swords. 
Webster, White Devil. 
