matrass

Meaning

Noun

• A bolt for a crossbow.
• A type of bolthead flask used in chemical distillation.

Origin

• From Anglo-Norman matraz ("shaft, dart"), Middle French materas, from an unattested post-classical variant of Latin mataris, materis, from a Gaulish language.
• From New Latin matracium and its source, Middle French matheras, matraz etc., either from Middle French materas (see Etymology 1, above), with reference to its shape, or from Arabic مطرة, مطارة.