Middle English Dictionary Entry
matte n.
Entry Info
| Forms | matte n. Also mat, (early) meatta & (in names only) mate, mette; pl. mattes & matten. |
| Etymology | OE matta, meatte, meatta; pl. meattan; from L. Although the OE evidence is hard to evaluate, it is probable that the -ea- and -e- forms are of Merc. or K origin. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A mat made of rushes, straw, etc., used on the floor or as a seat cover; (b) a pad or underlay for a bed; ?also, bedcover, quilt; (c) a piece of coarse fabric or matting; naut. ?piece of coarse fabric used to prevent chafing of parts of the rigging; (d) ~ maker, a maker of mats; ~ wif, ?woman who makes or sells mats.
Associated quotations
a
- (1365-70) *Acc.Exch.Q.R.Bundle 395 No.1 [OD col.] : Pro uno matte de stramine long.
- (1378) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.15 : [2] mattes [for a chamber].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.379 : Þe matte [L matta] þat was under hym whan he bad his bedes.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)87/1490 : In þe chirche an old monk sat, Seyinge his psauter vppon a mat.
- (1396) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.116 : [12] mattes [great and small].
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.223 : [A straw] matte.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)50b/a : Plecta: a matte.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)62b/a : Storium: a matte.
- (1434-5) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7835 : In uno matte empto ad scannum in capella.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)329 : Matte, or natte: Matta.
- (1443-4) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)283 : Payd for mattes for that on syde of the halle.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1234 : Leuer he had..To sytte vpon a matte of þe Angoras, þat..was y-closud in stone, þen to haue ben duchasse.
- (1450) Lin.DDoc.41/14 : j grete Carpette..a litell Carpet..the new mattes that lyen in the same Chaumbir.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1820 : Ȝef hyt falle on..Tabul or ston, vrþe or mat, Lyk hyt vp clene.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)613/37 : Storium: a matte, or a bed.
- (1462-3) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99279 : In ijbus mattis emp. pro aula.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)78a : A Matt: vbi Nett [read: Natt].
b
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)113/7 : To bedreafe ȝenoh is to habbenne meatta [L matta], & hwitel, & bedfelt, & pyle.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)10/6 : & wummen wið hare greate matten & hare hearde heren, neren ha of god ordre?
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)5/28 : Many oþer wiþ her grete Matten þat hij layen jnne & hard hayren. neren nouȝth þise of goode ordre?
c
- (1296) Newcastle Galley in Archaeol.Ael.4.2186 : ij Colfs, j Boye, j Matte, ij Forul', j Dryuel, j Mallea..j Warprape, ij Schetes..j Matte, ij Cabule, tres ancore.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52222/28 : Item, pro vj mattes ad cooperiendum le biscwhit in galeia.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52281/22 : Pro iiij lb. cotoni et j matte pro galeia.
- (1428) Proc.Privy C.3.289 : Item, for bordes, lattes, and mattes boght for to stoppe the wynde from the sayd clok, xxij d.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)59 : Þay armed ham in mattis Þay set on þer nollys..Gode blake bellys [read: bollys], For batryng of battis.
d
- (1377) R.Cov.in Dugd.Soc.167 : Iohannes Mattemaker.
- (1409) *Acc.Exch.K.R.44/11(3).m.3 [OD col.] : In arundine empt. de Alicia Mattemaker.
- (1431) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)207/15 : Also, To a Mattewyffe ij s. iiij d.
2.
(a) ?A rush, or the stalk of other rush-like plants; (b) ?in surname and place names.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 I wolde witen (Vrn)43 : Mon melteþ a-wey so deþ a mouht. Monnes miht nis worþ a Mat.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5274/13 : Pro mattes et stramine..emptis..pro buteria.
- (a1475) Recipe Painting(2) in Archaeol.J.1 (Sln 73)154 : That the vessel stonde hote, as in hors-dunge or in mattis or in good pese straw, but hors-dunge is the beste.
b
- (1159) in Pipe R.Soc.115 : Ricardus de Matefen.
- (c1190) in Ekwall Dict.EPN303 : Matesfen.
- (c1230) in Ekwall Dict.EPN303 : Mattefeld.
- (1256) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.8863 : Simonis de Matfen.
- (1272) Pat.R.Edw.I683 : Matfen.
- (1275) in Ekwall Dict.EPN303 : Mettefeld [Kent].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Trin-C.R.14.45 Recipes (Trin-C R.14.45) 125/7 : Covere þi vessel wel..þanne sette hit in a hote place or elles in hors dong or in goode mattes and late hit werchen.
Note: Postdates sense 1.(a).