noun. The act or process of producing a dull or roughened surface on metal; specifically, the process of covering plates with varnish in gilding on water-size.

noun. A dull, slightly roughened surface, free from polish, produced by the use of the mat.

noun. In stained glass, color laid on to deaden a surface or to render glass less transparent.

noun. Materials for mats; matwork.

noun. A fabric of some coarse material, as rushes, flags, grass, straw, hemp, bamboo, etc., used for covering floors, as a packing for some kinds of goods, and for various other purposes.

noun. Nautical, a texture made of strands of old rope, or of spun-yarn, beaten flat and interwoven, used to prevent chafing.

noun. The mat of a picture.—

noun. The act of interweaving or tangling together so as to make a mat; the process of becoming matted.

noun. Mats, in general, or collectively; mat work; a matlike fabric, for use in covering floors, packing articles, and the like; a kind of carpeting made of straw, etc.

noun. Materials for mats.

noun. An ornamental border. See 3d Mat, 4.

noun. A dull, lusterless surface in certain of the arts, as gilding, metal work, glassmaking, etc.

noun. mats, a collection of ground coverings

noun. coarse fabric, of the kind used to make mats

noun. a dull surface, often used for surrounding pictures; matte

verb. Present participle of mat.

noun. mounting consisting of a border or background for a picture

noun. a covering of coarse fabric (usually of straw or hemp)

"Wrapped in matting, well oiled, free from rust, and brand new, two Winchesters were first unearthed."