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单词 match
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matchn.1

Brit. /matʃ/, U.S. /mætʃ/
Forms: Old English mæcca, early Middle English mæcche, Middle English macch, Middle English macche, Middle English machche, Middle English mecche, Middle English mech, Middle English meche, Middle English mehche, Middle English metche, Middle English–1500s mach, Middle English–1600s mache, Middle English–1600s matche, 1500s– match; Scottish pre-1700 mach, pre-1700 mache, pre-1700 maich, pre-1700 matche, pre-1700 1700s– match.
Origin: Of multiple origins. Partly a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Partly formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: English gemæcca ; match v.1
Etymology: Aphetic < Old English gemæcca (see note below) < the Germanic base of y- prefix + a Germanic weak noun derived from the base of mack adj. with -j- infix before the thematic element causing doubling and palatalization of the velar consonant and i-mutation of the preceding vowel in Old English (compare i-make n. for a parallel formation without -j- infix, and cognates s.v.). Branch II. is partly < match v.1In Old English the prefixed form gemæcca is commoner (see quots. at senses 1 and 3). It survives into early Middle English only in late copies of material of Old English composition:c1175 ( Nativity of Virgin (Bodl.) in B. Assmann Angelsächsische Homilien u. Heiligenleben (1889) 128 Abiathar..brohte mycelne gyfe þam biscope & bæd hine, þet he sealde maria his sune to imæccæn.c1225 ( Ælfric Gloss. (Worcester) in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 537 Coniunx, imæcca.
I. One of an associated pair.
1. A husband or wife; a consort, a lover. Also: an animal's mate. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > married person > [noun] > spouse, consort, or partner
ferec975
matchOE
makec1175
spousea1200
lemanc1275
fellowc1350
likea1393
wed-ferea1400
partyc1443
espouse?c1450
bedfellow1490
yokefellow?1542
espousal1543
spouse1548
mate1549
marrow1554
paragon1557
yokemate1567
partner1577
better halfa1586
twin1592
moiety1611
copemate1631
consort1634
half-marrow1637
matrimonya1640
helpmeet1661
other half1667
helpmate1715
spousie1735
life companion1763
worse half1783
life partner1809
domestic partner1815
ball and chain1921
lover1969
eOE (Kentish) Charter: Oswulf & Beornðryð to Christ Church, Canterbury (Sawyer 1188) in F. E. Harmer Sel. Eng. Hist. Docs. 9th & 10th Cent. (1914) 1 Ic Osuulf aldormonn..ond Beornðryð min gemecca sellað to Cantuarabyrg to Cristes cirican [etc.].
OE Blickling Homilies 23 Twegen turturan gemæccan.]
OE St. Euphrosyne (Julius) in W. W. Skeat Ælfric's Lives of Saints (1900) II. 340 Ic hæbbe cristenne fæder.., and his mæcca min modor is of þyssum life gewiten.
OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) i. 20 Nelle þu ondrædan marian þine gemæccean to onfonne.]
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 290 Zakariȝess macche. Elysabæþ.
c1200 ( West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Hatton) i. 24 Þa aras ioseph..& he onfeng hys mæcchen.
a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 524 Vre sowle atte kirke-dure ches hire Crist to meche.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 695 (MED) Uch male matz his mach a man as hymselven.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 831 Philip..Had wed him anoþer wyfe..[Alexander says to him:] Now þou..macchis [a1500 Trin. Dub. þi mache] changis.
1558 J. Knox First Blast against Monstruous Regiment Women f. 42v But what maketh this for Mary and her matche Phillippe?
a1569 A. Kingsmill Viewe Mans Estate (1580) 31 Suche quarrelles as the unequal matches laie one in the others dishe.
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 853 This Heroicall Progenie of the Howards and their Matches.
1658 E. Phillips New World Eng. Words (at cited word) Match, a Term in Hunting, when a Wolf desires copulation, he is said to go to his match or to his mate.
2.
a. A person or thing able to contend with another as an equal. Chiefly in phrases: to meet (also †find) one's match: to encounter or come up against one's equal, esp. in strength or ability. to be (also prove oneself) a match for: to be (or prove oneself) equal to. to be more than a match for: to be superior in strength or ability to. †to be matches: (of two people) to be equal in strength or prowess (obsolete).In later use often overlapping with sense 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > be equal or find one's match (of persons)
make?a1300
to meet (also find) one's matchc1300
to be matchesa1470
match1536
parallela1594
paira1616
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > a contest or competition > viewed in terms of equality of parties
matchc1300
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > equal, match, or rival
matchc1400
to hold, rarely have, tack with (to)1412
equalize15..
mate1509
touch1530
to hold (a person, etc.) tack (to tack)1555
equal1590
egall1591
countermatch1600
to weigh with (also even with)1600
emulate1602
side1605
compeer1608
pair1619
mount1628
amate1642
to hold weight witha1643
to be (also prove oneself) a match for1712
peel1726
to hold the sticks toa1817
to bear or stand comparison with1845
see1861
tie1888
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)]
overcomeeOE
forecomec1000
overwieldlOE
masterc1225
overmaistrie1340
overmatcha1375
overpassa1382
surmount1390
to have the fairer (of)c1400
maistriec1400
overmasterc1425
winc1440
overc1485
bestride1526
rixlec1540
overreach1555
control1567
overmate1567
govern1593
to give (a person) the lurch1598
get1600
to gain cope of1614
top1633
to fetch overa1640
down1641
to have the whip hand (of)1680
carberry1692
to cut down1713
to be more than a match for1762
outflank1773
outmaster1799
outgeneral1831
weather1834
best1839
fore-reach1845
to beat a person at his (also her, etc.) own game1849
scoop1850
euchrec1866
bemaster1871
negotiate1888
to do down1900
to get (someone) wetc1926
lick1946
c1300 St. James Great (Harl.) 48 in F. J. Furnivall Early Eng. Poems & Lives Saints (1862) 59 Þe schrewe fond his macche þo.
a1450 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Lamb.) (1887) i. 13563 Þat wel couþe feighte, he fond his mecche.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 581 ‘I gyff you leve to go where ye lyst.’ ‘Gramercy,’ seyde kynge Marke, ‘for ye and I be no macchis.’
a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) 1607 Neuyr yit er my mache I founde.
?1556 (a1500) Knight of Curtesy (Copland) sig. B.iiiv His mache coulde he no where finde.
1624 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy (ed. 2) i. ii. iii. x. 96 Hannibal..met with his match, and was subdued at last.
1645 Bp. J. Hall Remedy Discontentm. xiv. 75 Men that are not able matches to their passions.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 297. ¶6 The Hero in the Paradise Lost is unsuccessful, and by no means a Match for his Enemies.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 23 I fancy myself at present..more than a match for all that can happen.
1833 H. Martineau Loom & Lugger i. iv. 58 If the rival manufactures are a match for each other, let them fight it out.
1871 C. Kingsley Lett. (1878) II. 362 The honourable man who will pay his debts is no match for the dis-honourable man who will not.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §1. 347 So long as Henry supported him,..he [sc. Thomas Cromwell] was more than a match..for his foes.
1927 A. Conan Doyle Case-bk. Sherlock Holmes 26 You haven't been slow on the job if you only started this morning. Maybe dear Adelbert has met his match this time.
1974 J. McGahern Leavetaking ii. 128 Jason's parents tried to stop the wedding, but they were no match for my father.
b. An opponent, an antagonist, a rival. Now rare.† man of match n. Obsolete (perhaps) a champion.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > competitor or rival
matchc1425
counter-companion1548
corrival1586
emulator1589
rival1590
concurrent1591
countermatcha1592
countermate1594
rivalis1616
competitor1656
co-rival1678
vierc1700
c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. 9327 Eche man rides vnto his macche.
c1450 (?a1400) Duke Rowland & Sir Otuell (1880) 809 (MED) There es no mache vn-to me, And þat me lykes ille.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) v. vii. 27 Ane vthir mache to hym was socht and sperit.
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. xxiv. 62 Euery man with his matche.
1570 Mariage Witte & Sci. iii. i. sig. Ci Your matche is monstrous to behoulde and full of might.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) v. iii. 11 Match to match I haue encountred him. View more context for this quotation
1640 W. Habington Queene of Arragon ii. i. C 2 b Seest thou that man of match Though small in stature, mighty he's in soule.
1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid i, in tr. Virgil in Eng. Verse 93 Ill-starred youth, for Achilles unequal match in the fight.
†3. An equal in age, rank, position, etc.; a fellow, a companion. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun] > equal, counterpart, or equivalent > person
headlingOE
peerc1300
evena1393
ferea1400
matchc1400
paregalc1425
paragon1557
equal1573
coequal1577
perequala1578
copartner1591
corrivala1592
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun] > rivalry or vying > match or rival
matchc1400
fellowc1425
corrival1586
rival1590
co-rival1678
answer1902
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > competitor or rival > an equal in a contest
fita1250
matchc1400
party1533
OE (Mercian) Rushw. Gospels: Matt. xi. 16 Similis est pueris..qui clamantes coecalibus dicunt [etc.]: gelic is cnehtum..þæm þe clipende to heora gemeccum cweþað [etc.].
OE Wærferð tr. Gregory Dialogues (Corpus Cambr.) (1900) iv. xxxvi. 316 Þa riftras þæt beoð þa englas, þa gebindað þa weod to sceafum to forbærnenne, þonne hi gegadriaþ þa gelican to heora gemæccum in þam gelicum tintregum.
lOE Coming of Antichrist in R. D.-N. Warner Early Eng. Homilies (1917) 67 Wearð he mid mihte on helle grundes mid his gemæccen besænct.]
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 124 (MED) Uch mon wyth his mach made hym at ese.
a1425 Celestine 488 in Anglia (1878) 1 79 Amonges vs [sc. the devils] shalto drecche; so longe hastou ben oure mecche, Day and ȝere.
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 331/1 Mehche,..par, compar.
1533 T. More Answere Poysened Bk. Pref. sig. Aa.iiiv Yf..there sholde neyther feleshyppe of theyr matchys, nor fere of any such as are after the worldly compt accompted for theyr betters, any thynge lette or wythstande them..to [etc.].
1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 64 A proude disdainfull manne..that..thinketh hymself..ouer good to haue a matche or felowe in this life.
1571 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xxvii. 66 Be thair exemple lerne experience, Ane forene mache or maister to admitt.
1587 T. Palfreyman Baldwin's Treat. Morall Philos. (new ed.) xi. i. f. 167 Marie thy match.
4. A person who or thing which equals another (in some quality or capacity).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun] > equal, counterpart, or equivalent
ylikeeOE
likea1200
make?c1225
fellow?a1425
proportion?a1425
countervailc1430
matcha1450
meetc1450
pareil?c1450
resemblant1484
equivalent1502
countermatch1587
second1599
parallel1600
equipollent1611
balancea1616
tantamount1637
analogy1646
analogate1652
form-fellow1659
equivalency1698
par1711
homologizer1716
peel1722
analogon1797
quits1806
correlate1821
analogue1837
representant1847
homologue1848
countertype1855
homologon1871
correlative1875
vis-à-vis1900
counterpart1903
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun] > rivalry or vying > match or rival > in some quality
matcha1450
OE Vercelli Homilies (1992) xxii. 368 Ne mette ic næfre on minum life swa mycles sares ne yfeles gemæccan, swa ic me nu ætforan geseo.]
a1450 Generides (Pierpont Morgan) (1865) 6680 He..fel adoun in swonyng... She made the mach..She swonned..Fifti tymes.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) I. 68 Of his strengthe and hardinesse I know hym nat lyvynge hys macche.
a1500 (?a1400) Tale King Edward & Shepherd (Cambr.) (1930) 783 ‘Hit is skorid here on a tayle’... ‘Þerof i ne rech; Iwisse, i haue þerto no mech!’
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. E5 The matche or like of hym therein, was seldome or neuer in those dayes any where found.
1603 J. Davies Microcosmos 209 But, that a Petti-fogging prating patch..Should be so prowde as if he had no match.
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. x. 499 I neuer found their matches amongst the best people of forrane Nations.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 551 Had Troy produc'd two more, his Match in Might, They would have chang'd the Fortune of the Fight.
1713 J. Smith Poems upon Several Occasions 7 Here fell Carnarvan, an Illustrious Name, In Blood superior, and his Match in Fame.
a1865 E. C. Gaskell Wives & Daughters (1866) I. xxi. 237 I don't believe there is his match anywhere for goodness.
1888 Daily News 26 Sept. 6/1 Where..is there the match of this imperishable tale of the relief of Lucknow?
1908 E. M. Forster Room with View xiv. 224 Miss Bartlett sighed. ‘I am no match for you in conversation, dearest.’
1920 E. Wharton Age of Innocence xii. 101 Possibly Beaufort, who was her match in daring, would have succeeded in bringing about a fusion.
1985 J. Irving Cider House Rules i. 28 Mom had no match as a cook.
5. Something which exactly corresponds to or complements another; something forming one of a matching pair.
ΚΠ
?1474 in C. L. Kingsford Stonor Lett. & Papers (1919) I. 147 Furste, j standyng Cuppe of sylver..Item, þe macch of þe same cuppe.
c1518 R. Amadas in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) II. xxviii. 284 Oone Potte new made unto a matche.
1551 R. Record Pathway to Knowl. ii. iv When two lines are drawen from the endes of anie one line, and meet in anie pointe, it is not possible to draw two other lines of like lengthe ech to his match that shal begin at the same pointes, and [etc.].
1583 W. Fulke Def. Transl. Script. xiv. 381 Your eies were not matches, or else they were daseled with a mist of malice, when you [etc.].
a1625 J. Fletcher Wit without Money (1639) ii. sig. C3v A maide content with one Coach and two horses, not falling out because they are not matches.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §393 Try them [sc. Waters] in Seuerall Bottles, or Open Vessells, Matches in euery Thing else.
1674 J. Moxon Tutor to Astron. & Geogr. (ed. 3) ii. 84 You might by..looking through any Star on the Globe see its Match in Heaven.
1818 J. Palmer Jrnl. Trav. U.S. 129 You've got two nice creatures, they are right elegant matches.
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona i. 5 Ragged gillies, such as I had seen the matches of by the dozen in my Highland journey.
1938 L. MacNeice I crossed Minch i. vii. 92 His Fair Isle pullover was almost too good a match for his green check suit.
1995 Brew Mar. 30/2 A particularly good match for a liter of Märzen would be Sudwerk's sausage platters.
II. The action of matching two things; a matched pair.
6.
a. A matching of adversaries against each other; a contest viewed with regard to the equality or inequality of the opponents. Now rare.
ΚΠ
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 4071 This was a mache vn-mete.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 1324 Vnmete was the Macche at þe mene tyme.
1599 M. Drayton Idea in Englands Heroicall Epist. (new ed.) sig. Q7 v Bad is the match where neither party wone.
1603 M. Drayton Barrons Wars ii. xxii. 31 Ferrer his Taberd..Well knowne in many a warlike match before.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida iv. vi. 47 It were no match, your naile against his horne. View more context for this quotation
1628 T. Hobbes tr. Thucydides Peloponnesian War (1822) 98 A profitable garland in their matches of valour.
1713 C. Molloy Half-pay Officers iii. vi. 63 Now I think on't, I won't come on, 'tis not an equal Match—I am a larger Mark.
1850 N. Hawthorne Scarlet Let. vii. 119 So conscious of her own right that it seemed scarcely an unequal match between the public, on the one side, and a lonely woman..on the other.
b. A contest or competitive trial of skill in a particular sport, game, or other activity, in which two or more players, teams, or (less commonly) animals are pitted against each other. Also figurative.In many sports consisting of a series of smaller units, e.g. games and sets in tennis, frames in snooker, etc. In later use the term is often understood to mean a contest between professional teams or players, organized and regulated by an official body.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun]
match1531
bonspiel1560
prize1565
main1589
traverse1599
seta1626
tournament1762
fixture1825
tourney1890
roundup1912
rodeo1927
go-around1933
start1949
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > a contest or competition
match1531
goala1555
vie1568
skirmish1576
rencounter1594
drop-vie1598
duellism1602
duello1606
bout1609
duel1613
competition1618
matcha1637
tournament1638
contest1648
rencontre1667
pingle?1719
sprawla1813
go1823
bet1843
bucklea1849
comp1929
cook-off1936
title race1948
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > [noun] > cricket-match
cricketing1668
cricket match1677
match1700
1531 in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expences Henry VIII (1827) 115 Item the xiiij daye paied to Sr John hurte v Angelles for that he bare wt the kinges grace in ij matches ayenst the duke of Suffolke..xxxvij s. vj. d.
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus i. f. 42v To make matches to assemble archers togyther, to contende who shall shoote best, and winne the game, encreaseth ye vse of shotynge wonderfully amonges men.
1567 T. Harman Caueat for Commen Cursetors (new ed.) sig. Di Where he hard..xl .d. gaged vpon a matche of wrastling.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. ii. 12 Come ciuill night,..And learne me how to loose a winning match, Plaide for a paire of stainlesse maydenhoods. View more context for this quotation
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Partie,..a match, or set, at game.
1647 J. Cleveland Poems in Char. London-diurnall (Wing C4662) 42 [He] leaves it a drawn match.
1676 Lady Chaworth in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 32 They have made four matches to be run at Newmarket.
1700 Post Boy 30 Mar. 2/1 A Match at Cricket, of 10 Gentlemen on each side, will Be Play'd.
1711 E. Budgell Spectator No. 161. ⁋3 A Foot-ball Match.
1747 Gen. Advertiser 4 July Mr. Richard Newland..with two of his Brothers, and two others..having advertised that they would play a Match at Cricket..against Five of any Parish of England [etc.].
1812 Sporting Mag. 39 107 All [coursing] matches to be entered in the match book.
1847 C. G. F. Gore Castles in Air (1857) xxxiii. 326 A match was skated upon the lake.
1882 C. Pebody Eng. Journalism xxi. 159 He speaks to his constituents..at a ploughing match.
1905 ‘O. Henry’ in Munsey's Mag. Dec. 288/2 A sad tale of adventure in which him and Pieface Lumley has a skinning-match of dead cows..for a silver-mounted saddle.
1951 Sport 27 Apr. 4/3 A five-a-side football match is being played between Glasgow's Celtic and Rangers.
1989 Independent 18 Nov. 59 The match looked set to fall well short of expectations when Navratilova moved to a flattering 5-1 lead.
c. gen. A lively bout or session of a particular activity, in which the participants seem to vie to outdo each other.shouting, slanging match: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > [noun] > a contest or competition
match1531
goala1555
vie1568
skirmish1576
rencounter1594
drop-vie1598
duellism1602
duello1606
bout1609
duel1613
competition1618
matcha1637
tournament1638
contest1648
rencontre1667
pingle?1719
sprawla1813
go1823
bet1843
bucklea1849
comp1929
cook-off1936
title race1948
a1637 B. Jonson Tale of Tub i. vi. 77 in Wks. (1640) III He has carried him to some drinking match, or other. View more context for this quotation
1720 J. Dart tr. Tibullus Wks. iii. vi. 195 He that to join the drinking Match declines, And shuns the Flavour of the generous Wines.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. II. ix. 117 They often assemble by concert for a general weeping-match.
1876 H. T. Williams Pacific Tourist 59/2 The pack of wolves assemble rapidly..you have but one enjoyment left, to listen to the most dismal of howling matches.
1954 V. Randolph Pissing in Snow (1976) 147 After awhile he..crawled in [bed] with the pretty girl. She was glad of it, and you never seen such a shagging match.
1992 Time 6 July 28/2 In the first real mudslinging match between the two [candidates], the Bush campaign nearly pressed the attack too far.
7.
†a. A suitable conjunction or pairing. above one's match: above one's level in some respect or quality. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > quality of being better or superior > [adjective]
bettereOE
selerOE
betc1175
greaterc1325
unmeeta1393
masculinec1425
above one's matchc1500
superior?c1550
uppera1586
precedent1598
supereminent1599
empyreal1641
prerogative1646
paramount1654
subalternating1671
racy1675
ranking1847
plus1860
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > [noun] > representing as similar > suitable pairing
matchc1500
c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) cix (MED) It is no mach of thyn unworthyness To hir hie birth, estate and beautee bryght.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 225 To the entente that wee may after a sorte make soome lykely matche of Roomains with the Grekes, we shall [etc.].
1545 Bp. S. Gardiner Let. 13 Nov. (1933) 188 Of hym that is an evel shote it is sayd he is good to pul down a syde, soo be they good to undoo a prince that shuld take them to his matche and frendship.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones I. iii. iv. 174 Master Blifil, notwithstanding he was the younger, was in Size above the other's Match, yet Tom was much his Superior at the noble Art of Boxing. View more context for this quotation
1787 E. Inchbald tr. ‘M. Damamiant’ Midnight Hour i. i. 2 Ay Sir, but we are not all equals in love for all that—for instance, you will always be above my match.
b. A (more or less) well-matched or complementary pair; two people, things, or sets, each the counterpart of the other. Cf. sense 5. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > two > pair > [noun]
pairc1300
couple1365
paira1382
gemels1382
pair1391
yokea1425
brace1430
binarya1464
match1542
twin1569
binity?1578
twoa1585
couplement1596
Gemini1602
couplet1604
twain1607
duad1660
dyad1675
duet1749
tway?a1800
doublet1816
two-group1901
two-grouping1901
coupling1961
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 333 Plutarchus..compareth theim twoo together as a veraye good matche and wel coupleed.
1807 Z. M. Pike Acct. Exped. Sources Mississippi (1810) 105 Discovered one of my sleigh dogs was missing..; this was no little mortification, as it broke the match, whose important services I had already experienced.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xxii. 210 If they were a little better match—..I mean if they were a little more of a size.
8.
a. A marriage or a marriage agreement, esp. one viewed as more or less advantageous with regard to wealth or social status. to make a match: to get married or make an arrangement to marry; (also) to bring two people together in love or marriage, by contriving or influence.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > match-making > make a match [verb (intransitive)]
to make a match1547
matchmake1865
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (intransitive)]
weda1225
marrya1325
spousec1390
to make matrimonyc1400
intermarry1528
contract1530
to give (also conjoin, join, take) in (also to, into) marriage1535
to make a match1547
yoke1567
match1569
mate1589
to go to church (with a person)1600
to put one's neck in a noosec1600
paira1616
to join giblets1647
buckle1693
espouse1693
to change (alter) one's condition1712
to tie the knot1718
to marry out1727
to wedlock it1737
solemnize1748
forgather1768
unite1769
connubiate1814
conjugalize1823
connubialize1870
splice1874
to get hitched up1890
to hook up1903
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > a marriage > [noun] > viewed as more or less advantageous
match1547
1547 tr. A. de Marcourt Bk. Marchauntes (new ed.) sig. fvj S. Iuy kepeth proces in ye lawe. S. honory maketh matches.
1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. xvi. 288 The common sort of men in making their matches this way haue chiefly two outward vntoward respects.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 284 His grace hath made the match . View more context for this quotation
1676 Lady Chaworth in 12th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1890) App. v. 28 Twas a match of his friends and not his owne making.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 182. ⁋4 Whose hope is to raise themselves by a wealthy match.
1793 Marquis of Buckingham in 14th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1896) 390 The match which is settled between Sir W. Young and Miss Talbot.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xlvii. 468 Matches are made in Heaven, they say.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) v. 52 I always supposed that Mrs. Lupin and you would make a match of it.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People vii. §4. 378 It was by a match with Henry Stuart that Mary determined to unite the forces of Catholicism.
1933 H. Allen Anthony Adverse I. i. ii. 25 Although Don Luis was a quarter of a century older than his bride, still in the eyes of the world..the match had seemed a fortunate one.
1959 P. H. Johnson Unspeakable Skipton (1961) 183 Mark my words, they'll make a match of it again some day.
1987 W. Raeper George MacDonald vi. 65 There can be no doubt that the match was a good one as far as MacDonald and Louisa were concerned.
†b. The action of marrying; relationship by marriage. by match: as a result of a marriage. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > [noun] > relationship by marriage
affinitya1325
match1574
in-lawry1894
in-lawship1954
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > [noun]
eeOE
weddingc1000
wivingOE
contractc1315
marriagec1325
matrimony1357
unionc1475
maritagec1478
briding1566
espousal1566
match1574
intermarriage1579
despousing1609
espousement1623
nuptial1630
coupling1641
splice1830
intermarrying1843
contraction1885
yokemating1891
1574 J. Dee in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) 39 In direct line, braunche, collaterall, or match.
1605 W. Camden Remaines ii. 35 Who in these 2. funerall verses, contained her princely parentage, match, & issue.
a1640 T. Risdon Chorogr. Surv. Devon (1811) (modernized text) §53 58 By match, it came to Tremenet.
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. iii. 40 He possessed fair lands in Anjou and Maine; by Match in right of Queen Elianor his Wife.
c. A person viewed with regard to his or her eligibility as a marriage partner, esp. on the grounds of wealth or rank; a person considered as a prospective husband or wife.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > fitness for marriage > [noun] > marriageable person > with reference to means or position
marriagec1400
party1492
match1586
parti1779
1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. P2v Wele finde out a better matche wherewith to delight thee.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) iii. iv. 71 She is no match for you. View more context for this quotation
1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts iv. i. sig. I1v A maide well qualified, and the richest match Our North part can make boast of.
1688 S. Penton Guardian's Instr. 27 When I had provided an agreeable Match, his Comrades..taught him to rail at Matrimony.
1710 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 20 Oct. (1948) I. 65 Lord Ashburnham, the best match now in England.
1774 H. Walpole Lett. to H. Mann 28 Mar. He, the first match in England.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. xi. 90 He left me so little property, that I was a bad match.
1867 G. MacDonald Ann. Quiet Neighbourhood III. iv. 80 He's a very good match in point of property and family too.
1926 L. Hart Maybe it's Me in Compl. Lyrics (1986) 60/2 And thou' I'm as mediocre As a cup of hotel mocha, I'm sure you couldn't find a better match.
1990 A. S. Byatt Possession xix. 357 He was not a good match for any girl in the village, for he was thought to be rash as well as poor.
†d. Heraldry. A device representing a matrimonial alliance. Obsolete.
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society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > [noun] > armorial bearings or coat of arms > matrimonial
match1628
1628 E. Coke 1st Pt. Inst. Lawes Eng. Pref. A tomb with his statue upon it together with his own match and the matches of some of his ancestors.
1640 J. Yorke (title) The Union of Honour. Containing the Armes, Matches And Issues of the Kings, Dukes, Marquesses and Earles of England.
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. viii. 298 The Windows illustrated with the Armes and matches of the Chetwynds in painted glass.
†9. An agreement or arrangement; a bargain. it is a match! (also simply a match!): agreed! (said in concluding a wager or agreement). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > agreement [phrase]
it is a match!1569
that's right1608
true for you1765
how right you are1799
them's my sentiments1847
I should think (suppose, etc.)1861
right you are!1862
sure thing1895
you said it1911
with knobs on1930
you can say that again1932
I should coco1936
I couldn't agree more (with someone)1939
that makes two of us1956
yes please2010
the mind > language > speech > agreement > [noun] > an agreement
forewardOE
accordc1275
covenant1297
end1297
form1297
frettec1330
conjurationc1374
treatc1380
bargainc1386
contractc1386
comenaunt1389
compositionc1405
treaty1427
pact1429
paction1440
reconventionc1449
treatisea1464
hostage1470
packa1475
trystc1480
bond (also band) of manrent1482
covenance1484
concordance1490
patisement1529
capitulation1535
conventmenta1547
convenience1551
compact1555
negotiation1563
sacrament1563
match1569
consortship1592
after-agreementa1600
combourgeoisie1602
convention1603
comburghership1606
transaction1611
end-makingc1613
obligement1627
bare contract1641
stipulation1649
accompackmentc1650
rue-bargaina1657
concordat1683
minute1720
tacka1758
understanding1803
meet1804
it's a go1821
deal1863
whizz1869
stand-in1870
gentlemen's agreement1880
meeting of minds1883
1569 T. Preston Lamentable Trag. Cambises (Manly) 250 A match ye shall make straight with me.
1587 J. Hooker tr. Giraldus Cambrensis Vaticinall Hist. Conquest Ireland ii. viii. 37/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II These things came not thus to passe, as it were by a set match, but euer of a common course of fortune.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) v. ii. 79 A match, 'tis done. View more context for this quotation
a1628 J. Preston New Covenant (1634) 217 If a man be holy but by halves, that makes not the match, it makes not the agreement between the Lord and us.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler ii. 61 A match, good Master, lets go to that house. View more context for this quotation
1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem i. 7 A Match!
1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man ii. 19 But I tell you, Sir, the lady is not at liberty. Its a match.
10. Computing. The action of identifying a record or other item of stored data which meets the requirements of a search; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > data > database > [noun] > access or retrieval > searching
match1962
society > computing and information technology > data > database > [noun] > access or retrieval > searching > results of
match1962
hit1966
1962 Gloss. Terms Automatic Data Processing (B.S.I.) 30 Equivalence operation, match.
1968 Brit. Med. Bull. 24 208/1 If agreement is reached on all of the five primary items, a ‘match’ is declared and the file is brought up to date.
1988 G. L. Bildson in D. R. Raymond Potpourri of Prototypes (Univ. Waterloo Doc. OED-90-01) (1990) 23 The result of a Pat search is a set of lines, each corresponding to a match, showing its absolute offset within the OED.
III. The state of being matched.
11. An equality of electrical impedance between two coupled devices. Cf. match v.1 9f.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic phenomena > electronic circuit > [noun] > connection with mutual dependence > equality of impedance of coupled devices
match1931
1931 Proc. IRE 19 725 By introducing capacitative elements,..a match can be obtained.
1952 D. D. King Measurem. at Centimeter Wavelength ii. 51 No assurance of match exists without prior knowledge of the impedance to be matched.
1991 Sci. Amer. Feb. 96/2 The efficiency with which the bridge performs these chores depends on what is called the impedance match between the strings and the soundboard.

Compounds

C1. General attributive (in sense 8a).
† match-broker n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > match-making > [noun] > match-maker
broker1377
marriage-maker1591
proxenete1609
matcher1611
ring-carriera1616
matchmaker1638
match-broker1640
marriage broker1662
marriage-bawd1676
match-monger1680
flesh-broker1699
wife broker1700
black-sole1725
marriage-monger?1748
Blackfoot1808
blackleg1825
1640 R. Brome Sparagus Garden i. iii. sig. C Is the Divell become a match-broker?
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 204 What Consultations, what Embassies, and a whole Councell-Board of Banes-Wrights, or Match-brokers, must go to the knitting of a Princes Love-Knot.
match-marring n.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > match-making > [noun] > the opposite of match-making
match-marring1890
1890 Athenæum 28 June 828/2 There are four or five young people, and two old widowers do the matchmaking and the matchmarring.
† match-monger n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > match-making > [noun] > match-maker
broker1377
marriage-maker1591
proxenete1609
matcher1611
ring-carriera1616
matchmaker1638
match-broker1640
marriage broker1662
marriage-bawd1676
match-monger1680
flesh-broker1699
wife broker1700
black-sole1725
marriage-monger?1748
Blackfoot1808
blackleg1825
1680 M. Stevenson Wits Paraphras'd 19 Where's Hymen too, that old Match-monger? I can't forbear him any longer.
1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 250 He demanded a handsome Wife, which they sold him at the Price of an Aching-head, and the Match-monger assured him, that [etc.].
C2.
match angler n. an angler who fishes in competitions, as contrasted with one who fishes simply for pleasure.
ΚΠ
1976 Eastern Evening News (Norwich) 22 Dec. 4/4 The match angler, the specimen hunter, the lone angler, the sea angler—all no doubt are looking forward to a happy Christmas.
1992 Angling Times 22 Apr. 4/2 Carbon fibre has often been something of a mixed blessing for the match angler.
match angling n. = match fishing n.
ΚΠ
1972 B. Bartles (title) Match angling.
1994 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Nexis) 2 July 54 Rab had 190 fish during the five-hour competition—a number surely unprecedented in Scottish match angling.
match ball n. (a) a ball of the size and standard specified by the rules or laws of a particular sport; (b) Tennis, Squash, etc., a ball or shot which, if won, will decide the match.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > [noun] > ball > types of
footballa1425
handballc1440
match ball1849
knur1852
bat-ball1876
racquetball1973
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [noun] > score or stage of game
match ball1849
game ball1853
games all1853
game, set, and match1879
vantage1884
advantage point1889
game point1903
ad1915
match point1921
van1927
set point1928
ad point1939
break point1975
mini-break1981
1849 ‘Bat’ Cricketer's Man. (ed. 3) (advt.) Dark's and Duke's Match Balls.
1898 R. Kipling Day's Work 391 In the black jersey..of the First Fifteen, the new match-ball under his arm.
1927 Daily Express 5 July 2/1 They..retrieved two successive match balls in the third set.
1934 W. J. Lewis Lang. Cricket 8 A match ball is one of superior quality for match-play, of the size and weight specified in the Laws.
1988 Squash World Dec. 21/3 Spacey recovered to draw level but failed to capitalise on three match-balls and was taken into a fifth game.
match book n. a book in which sporting matches, scores, race-days, etc., are recorded.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > umpiring and scoring > [noun] > score > scorebook
match book1812
scorebook1851
1812 Sporting Mag. 39 107 All matches to be entered in the match book.
1845 W. Denison Cricketer's Compan. 1844 p. iii The Compiler feels it necessary to offer his thanks to the Presidents and Secretaries..for..allowing him to make extracts from their match-books.
1973 Irish Times 2 Mar. 2/7 He has been Keeper of the Match Book, Stakeholder and Receiver of Entries for 14 years.
match card n. Cricket a scorecard listing both teams in batting order, sometimes printed with the scores and details to date.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > umpiring and scoring > [noun] > score > scorecard
card1849
scorecard1877
match card1901
1901 H. Bleackley Tales of Stumps iv. 96 Match-cards with the ‘order of going in’ had been printed and eagerly purchased by the spectators.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 20 Oct. 11/2 The Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, who, however his name may be printed on the match-cards, will always be known to the cricket-loving public.
1934 W. J. Lewis Lang. Cricket 162 Match card, a card giving the names of the players in the order of going in to bat, and a summary of the score up to the time of issue.
match cut n. Cinematography a cut (cut n.2 15) in which the shots either side of the cut are linked through a thematic continuation of action, image, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > filming > special effect > [noun] > cut
cutting1921
quick cut1932
cut1933
cutaway1951
jump cut1953
match cut1961
1961 Jrnl. Soc. Cinematologists 1 26 Let us look at the terms used in editing... Cut-on-action, or the match cut or action cut.
1981 J. Monaco How to read Film (rev. ed.) ii. 185 Stanley Kubrick's match cut in 2001: A Space Odyssey, between a prehistoric bone whirling in the air and a twenty-first-century space station in space, is possibly the most ambitious match cut in history.
2005 Cineaste Spring 58/3 When a rousing gasthaus sing-along is punctuated by thumping beer steins, expect a match cut to a pounding gavel in the courtroom.
matchday n. the day of a particular match, esp. a football match.
ΚΠ
1947 Sporting Mirror 7 Nov. 1/1 Joe Mercer made the journey from Merseyside—he still does every match-day.
1992 When Sat. Comes Feb. 20/2 We succumbed to the ‘When in Rome’ scenario before us and grabbed a slice of that complete Turkish matchday experience.
match fishing n. Angling fishing in competitions, rather than simply for pleasure.
ΚΠ
1927 ‘Float & Fly’ Fishing Matches i. 1 Match fishing is a very pleasant occupation.
1996 Total Sport July 118/3 I went..to observe proceedings at the annual Best Of British match fishing competition.
match-fit adj. Sport in good enough physical condition to play in a match (also in extended use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > fit > for a match
match-fit1960
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [adjective] > condition or fitness
unexercised1562
fine1815
well-girt1816
fit1869
questionable1941
match-fit1960
on-form1965
1960 V. Jenkins Lions Down Under xii. 179 Terry Davies, Tony O'Reilly and Jeff Butterfield..were still far from match-fit.
1967 Listener 24 Aug. 241/2 It took me about three months of being back in the theatre to feel match fit.
1999 Sunday Tel. (Nexis) 5 Sept. 5 We deliberately defended deep because we had players who weren't wholly match fit.
match-fitness n. Sport the condition of being match-fit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [noun] > good health > fitness > for a match
match-fitness1960
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > qualities of sportsperson > condition or fitness
bottom1747
staying power1859
form1869
steel1891
match-fitness1960
1960 V. Jenkins Lions Down Under xvi. 251 He..failed to reach match-fitness in time.
1999 Times 3 Sept. 56/8 Gary Neville is struggling to prove his match fitness after returning from a groin problem.
match fixing n. Sport the action or illegal practice of arranging the outcome of a match before it is played.
ΚΠ
1983 Summary of World Broadcasts Pt. 2: Eastern Europe (B.B.C.) 10 Aug. EE/7408/i The Pleven team Spartak has been demoted..for match fixing.
1999 Cricketer Mar. 5/1 Any person found guilty of match-fixing can expect to be put out of the game for a very long period.
match game n. (a) North American a sporting match; (b) a match or game, esp. a game of chess, forming part of a larger tournament.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > board game > chess > [noun] > type of game or match
match game1857
lightning tournament1902
Swiss1953
all-play-all1956
simul1969
1857 Porter's Spirit of Times 26 Dec. 261/3 A match game of Base-ball came off, on Saturday last, between the Arctic and Superior.
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 2 July 5/2 A champion chess player will often lose a match game to a far inferior opponent.
1948 Denison (Texas) Herald 1 July 4/6 He will reach Denison in time for the match game of baseball of the Fourth.
1990 St. Louis (Missouri) Post-Dispatch (Nexis) 28 Mar. d2 His accomplishments as a matchgame bowler..put Norris in the ABC Hall of Fame in 1954.
† match horse n. Obsolete a horse entered for a race.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by purpose used for > [noun] > racehorse
runnera1500
match horse1607
racehorse1607
racer1629
race naga1635
wagoner1859
neddy1887
pony1896
bang-tail1921
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice iii. 67* These Tryers..ought to ride by the match-horses all the day long.
1866 ‘M. Twain’ Lett. from Hawaii (1967) 50 He bought a pair of very respectable-looking match horses from a native.
match list n. (a) a list of sporting fixtures, or of players in a match; (b) a list of people who are compatible in some way.
ΚΠ
1774 R. Cumberland Note of Hand i. ii. 5 Harkee, have you the match-list? let me see—Burford, York, Newmarket;—March, April, October.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 12 July 12/3 Heavy courts, black balls, and disorganized match-lists combined to make last week's tournaments anything but pleasant.
1989 San Diego Union-Tribune (Nexis) 30 June e1 ‘Who's rasslin'?’ ‘Does it make any difference?’ said the person behind the ticket window, handing me a match list.
matchman n. Angling = match angler n.
ΚΠ
1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 28 Mar. 175/2 Indeed, Mr. Fred Taylor seems eager to explore every form of angling, and even has a good word to say for the ‘matchman’ as opposed to the ‘pleasure angler’.
1991 Angler's Mail 16 Feb. 13/3 The Kamasan Matchman of the Year race is heading for its tightest-ever showdown with at least half a dozen anglers in the hunt for the most sought-after title.
matchplay n. (a) Sport play in a competition, or according to competition rules; (also) the play characterizing a particular match, esp. with regard to quality or skill; (b) Golf play in which the score is reckoned by counting the holes won by each side, as opposed to the number of strokes taken to complete a round (cf. stroke-play n. at stroke n.1 Compounds 1).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > [noun] > types of game or match
round1744
match-playing1857
half-round1865
foursome1867
matchplay1877
stroke-game1896
threesome1901
score-play1902
stroke-competition1904
score-game1905
greensome1911
fivesome1928
skin game1942
three-ball1952
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [noun] > types of game
sudden death1834
matchplay1877
vantage-set1892
double1894
softball1914
breaker1979
challenger1990
1877 Encycl. Brit. VI. 608/2 In match play the hoops and pegs are set and run as in the diagram.
1893 Baily's Mag. Oct. 279/1 The championships are played on different principles, the amateur being by holes or ‘match’ play, and the open by strokes.
1920 W. T. Tilden Art of Lawn Tennis 67 Match play, where both men are in the same class as tennis players, resolves itself into a battle of wits and nerve.
1991 Canberra Times 31 Jan. 21/2 Morse will start as one of the favourites for the first prize..because of his vast experience in matchplay events.
match-player n. a person who participates in matchplay.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [noun] > player > types of
volley1878
volleyer1878
foot-faulter1893
match-player1894
net player1919
double-faulter1921
smasher1921
tennis-professional1938
tennis-pro1942
counterpuncher1944
retriever1974
1894 Westm. Gaz. 5 Apr. 2/1 Steinitz is the first match-player living.
1909 E. H. Miles Lessons Lawn Tennis (ed. 3) 50 The ideal match player.
match-playing n. = matchplay n.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > [noun] > types of game or match
round1744
match-playing1857
half-round1865
foursome1867
matchplay1877
stroke-game1896
threesome1901
score-play1902
stroke-competition1904
score-game1905
greensome1911
fivesome1928
skin game1942
three-ball1952
1857 H. B. Farnie Golfer's Man. 86 In Match playing every ball must be played, wherever it lies, or the hole be given up.
1909 E. H. Miles Lessons Lawn Tennis (ed. 3) 50 Hints on Match-playing.
match point n. (a) Tennis, Squash, etc., a point which, if won, will win the match; (b) Bridge a unit of scoring used in matches and tournaments; frequently attributive.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > game or definite spell of play > stage in game
time out1896
restart1897
seventh-inning stretch1903
match point1921
quick death1938
turnaround1959
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [noun] > scores or points
penalty1904
point1910
point count1914
match point1921
part score1932
swing1945
victory point1962
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > racket games > lawn tennis > [noun] > score or stage of game
match ball1849
game ball1853
games all1853
game, set, and match1879
vantage1884
advantage point1889
game point1903
ad1915
match point1921
van1927
set point1928
ad point1939
break point1975
mini-break1981
1921 A. W. Myers Twenty Years Lawn Tennis 48 In the end he won the match, Dixon, after lazily reaching match point some eight or nine times,..retiring at two sets all.
1936 E. Culbertson Contract Bridge Compl. xxxiv. 371 In duplicate Contract with match-point scoring, the unit of play is not a game or a rubber, but an individual deal.
1973 Country Life 13 Dec. 2048/1 This was a good match-point result, for many pairs reached Six Diamonds.
1988 Tennis World June 20/3 Leconte, receiving on match point hit what he felt was a match winner beyond Noah's reach.
match-pointed adj. Bridge designating a pairs tournament scored by match points.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > bridge > [adjective] > type of tournament
Swiss1953
match-pointed1958
1958 Listener 30 Oct. 709/2 Match-pointed Pairs. Game All. Dealer West.
1974 Guardian 25 Mar. 24/7 Match-pointed pairs events require an entirely different approach from team competitions.
matchpot n. a small pot of paint used to assess the suitability of a particular colour for the purpose of interior decoration.
ΚΠ
1982 Financial Times (Nexis) 23 Apr. i. 15 Matchpots were launched through public relations in March 1981 and supported a month later with advertising from J. Walter Thompson.
1995 Which? Aug. 25/2 If you buy paint off the shelf, you can often get a 75ml tester-sized matchpot for around £1.
match race n. chiefly U.S. a race, esp. a horse race, run according to competition rules.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > [noun] > types of race
quarter-mile1611
dead1635
diaulos1706
quarter1779
dead heat1796
match race1804
dash1836
sprint race1836
mile1851
road race1852
time trial1857
decider1858
all-ages1864
rough-up1864
hippodrome1867
distance running1868
team race1869
run-off1873
relay race1878
walk-away1879
title race1905
tortoise race1913
procession1937
stage1943
pace1968
prologue1973
1804 M. Cutler Jrnl. 13 Nov. in W. P. Cutler & J. P. Cutler Life, Jrnls. & Corr. M. Cutler (1888) II. 172 It was a match race of two two-year-old colts..for $1,000.
1874 B. F. Taylor World on Wheels 105 The train..ran a match race with a train on the Michigan Central, and reached Chicago twenty-five minutes ahead.
1948 Chicago Daily News 1 Nov. 13/3 He whipped Sir Barton, a 4-year-old, in a memorable match race.
1961 F. C. Avis Sportsman's Gloss. 166/2 Match Race Conditions, those normally applied to a cycle race, and affecting the number of competitors; their positions; the start, etc.
match rifle n. a rifle, other than a service rifle, used in shooting competitions.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > [noun] > target-rifle
match rifle1867
target-rifle1901
1867 Cornhill Mag. Aug. 189 Precision..as great as is attainable..with a good match-rifle.
1986 Air Gunner Sept. 46/1 (advt.) The thumb hole stock is similar to a match rifle with a lowered and more vertical pistol grip to give better trigger control.
match-rifling n. an adjustment which enables a gun to be used for long-range shooting in competitions.
ΚΠ
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 146 The Metford match-rifling is very expensive to produce.
match rigging n. Sport = match fixing n.
ΚΠ
1979 Summary of World Broadcasts Pt. 2: Eastern Europe (B.B.C.) 29 June EE/6154/B/5 The Yugoslav press calls for..the permanent removal from sport of the heads of the teams which took part in match-rigging.
1993 Time (Electronic ed.) 20 Sept. Bobby Fischer had accused the Soviets of match rigging and clashed repeatedly with FIDE officials.
1999 Daily Record (Glasgow) (Electronic ed.) 24 Feb. The French aces..were existing on the brink of a match-rigging scandal which eventually brought them to their knees.
match-winner n. (a) a person whose skill brings about or contributes to victory in a match; (b) the goal, point, etc., which wins a match.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [noun] > team or group > member of > with specific function
pivotman1782
engine room1897
swing man1903
match-winner1908
starter1911
screener1923
playmaker1931
point man1951
1908 Westm. Gaz. 21 Aug. 3/1 If you..should encounter as keen a [golf] match-winner as yourself.
1993 Sun 31 May (Summer Soccer Special) 7/3 Striker Graham Arnold was the matchwinner.
match-winning adj. that wins the match; contributing to or bringing about victory in a match.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [adjective] > by ability
strongOE
scrub1867
all-star1889
stiff1890
first string1892
plus1906
match-winning1908
all-time1910
seeded1922
front line1939
sharpshooting1948
world-class1950
uncapped1955
storming1961
1908 Westm. Gaz. 21 Aug. 3/1 And if you, match-winning disciple, find yourself placed in this delicate position [etc.].
1958 Times 20 Sept. 2/6 Without Wardle they have no match-winning spinner.
1992 Daily Mirror 8 Sept. 25/1 The Manchester United midfielder..was suffering from a virus despite his match-winning performance in Sunday's 2–0 home win.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

matchn.2

Brit. /matʃ/, U.S. /mætʃ/
Forms: Middle English macche, Middle English machche, Middle English mecche, Middle English meche, Middle English–1500s matche, Middle English–1600s mache, 1500s metche, 1500s–1600s mach, 1500s– match, 1600s math, 1600s metch; Scottish pre-1700 matche, pre-1700 mattch, pre-1700 metche, pre-1700 1700s– match.
Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French meche.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman and Middle French meche wick (12th cent. in Old French as mece; French mèche wick, fuse), of uncertain origin. Compare Spanish mecha (a1250), Old Occitan mecha (c1250), meca (c1350), Portuguese mecha (14th cent.), Catalan metxa (c1400), Italian miccia (16th cent.), all probably borrowings < French.The French word is perhaps connected with classical Latin myxa wick of a lamp ( < ancient Greek μύξα mucus, wick of a lamp: for the connection of sense compare candle n. 4c), with sense influenced by the doublet classical Latin mūcus mucus n. (compare Italian moccolo snuff of a candle). Forms in -a- are perhaps by analogy with match n.1, although for very similar developments compare cratch n.1 and forms in -a- s.v. vetch n., and for the reverse development compare forms in -e- s.v. catch v. (perhaps arising by analogy with the variation in form shown by e.g. thatch, hatch, watch; compare also snatch).
†1.
a. The wick of a candle or lamp. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > candle > [noun] > wick
flaxc975
candle-wickc1000
wickc1000
matcha1398
torch-wick1444
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 249v Maches for candeles.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xvii. 213 Ȝet brenneth the weyke, With-oute leye or liȝte that the macche brenneth.
a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. Secreta Secret. (Rawl.) (1898) 237 (MED) Yf the mecche be ouer depe y-sette in the oyle, hit shall anoone be y-queynte.
?a1500 Nominale (Yale Beinecke 594) in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 754/20 Hic lichinus, meche.
1530 Myroure Oure Ladye (Fawkes) (1873) ii. 113 The fatnesse of oyle may not burne, tyl a weyke or matche be put therto.
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball iv. lii. 510 Pith the whiche..serueth for Matches to burne in lampes.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 161 Of the grapes which this Palma Christi, or Ricinus doth carie, there be made excellent weiks or matches for lamps and candles.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica vi. xii. 335 Nor will it [sc. the smoke of sulphur] easily light a candle, untill..the flame approacheth the match . View more context for this quotation
b. A small burning torch. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > artificial light > an artificial light > torch > [noun] > small
taperOE
torchet1470
matchc1595
c1595 Capt. Wyatt in G. F. Warner Voy. R. Dudley to W. Indies (1899) 25 The which [flies] make resemblance as if they weare so manie light matches.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 118 Hanging out kindled matches to terrifie the theeues.
1638 T. Herbert Some Yeares Trav. (rev. ed.) 14 Fire or a lighted matche only scaring them [sc. lions].
2.
a. A piece of cord, cloth, paper, wood, etc., dipped in melted sulphur so as to be readily ignited with a flint, and used to light a candle or lamp, or to light fuel. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > match, spill, or taper for lighting
wax tapera1398
match1519
brimstone match1594
card match1654
spunk1755
light1787
spill1821
lighter1828
candle-paper1829
fidibus1829
Promethean1829
sulphur-match1830
pipelight1842
candle-lighter1855
kitchen match1862
spiller1936
1519 W. Horman Vulgaria xvi. f. 154v We lacke matches to take fyre of the tynder.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 243/2 Matche to lyght a candell, alumette.
1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall 20 When the steele and the flint be knockde togither, a man may light his match by the sparkle.
1608 T. Middleton Familie of Love (new ed.) v. sig. G3 v To light their matches at my tynder.
1695 W. Congreve Love for Love ii. i. 19 What a World of Fire and Candle, Matches and Tinderboxes did you purchase!
1710 London Gaz. No. 4677/4 There were found about them..several Fir-Matches dip'd in Brimstone.
a1776 R. James Vindic. Fever Powder in Diss. Fevers (1778) 84 There are many ways of lighting a candle, by a piece of paper, by charcoal, by pit-coal or by a brimstone match.
a1822 P. B. Shelley Homer's Hymn to Mercury xviii, in Posthumous Poems (1824) 301 Mercury first found out for human weal Tinder-box, matches, fire-irons, flint and steel.
1889 J. Nicholson Folk-speech E. Yorks. 18 The present paraffin match has quite superseded the old brimstone match, made of a splinter of wood about six inches long, and dipped at both ends.
b. A similar device used for fumigation. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > freedom from impurities > removal of impurities > disinfecting > [noun] > fumigating > sulphuration > apparatus for
match1662
sulphurator1851
1662 C. Merret Communication 17 Dec. in T. Birch Hist. Royal Soc. (1756) i. 161 Another match for French clarets and Spanish wines: Take orris roots, mastic and brimstone.
1669 C. Merret Some Observ. conc. ordering Wines in W. Charleton Two Disc. 204 French and Rhenish wines are..commonly preserved by the Match.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Matching Melt brimstone.., dip into it slips of coarse linnen cloth... Take one of these matches, set one end of it on fire, and put it into the bung-hole of a cask.
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 1303 It is useful to counteract the..tendency to acidity, by burning a sulphur match in the casks.
1853 A. Ure Dict. Arts (ed. 4) II. 125 To make writing-paper matches, which burn with a bright flame and diffuse an agreeable odour, moisten each side of the paper with tincture of benzoin [etc.].
1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree II. iv. ii. 94 Curious objects about a foot long, in the form of Latin crosses (made of lath and brown paper dipped in brimstone—called matches by bee-fanciers).
3.
a. A piece of wick, cord, etc., which burns at a uniform rate (being hard to extinguish once lit), used to fire a cannon or other firearm, or ignite a trail of gunpowder, etc.; a fuse. Also figurative. Now archaic and historical.See also slow match n., quick-match n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > cord or rope to light fireworks or guns
match?a1549
lunt1550
stouple1634
match-cord1647
slow match1651
quick-match1690
match-thread1740
match-line1824
punk1852
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > equipment for use with firearms > [noun] > fuse
portfire1629
fuse1647
match1653
field staff1705
port-feu1802
mouse1867
?a1549 Inventory Henry VIII (1998) I. 129/1 Lynte or Matche.
1549 in Acts Privy Council (1890) II. 348 Matches, vjc weight.
1573–4 in W. H. Turner Select. Rec. Oxf. (1880) 356 Item, for a mache..jd.
1602 J. Marston Hist. Antonio & Mellida ii. sig. C3 The match of furie is lighted, fastned to the linstock of rage.
1605 His Maiesties Speach G 4 And thereafter searching the fellow [sc. Guido Fawkes],..found three matches..ready vpon him.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxii. 81 Tied four and four, and five and five together with the matches of their muskets.
1657 tr. A. Thevet Prosopographia 72 in T. North tr. Plutarch Lives (new ed.) It was a Morian slave that strangled him [sc. Atabalipa] with a match.
1740 C. Davies Life & Adventures ii. 35 I immediately snatched the Match out of the Man's Hand who was going to fire.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 235 A musket, or musquet, is a fire-arm..formerly fired by the application of a lighted match.
1845 Biblical Repertory July 482 The Arabs collect the silk and twist it into matches for their guns, preferring it to the common match because it requires no sulphur to render it combustible.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. xiv. 229 The other was the man standing by with a lighted match, and determined to touch the fuse.
1980 E. Jong Fanny iii. xi. 399 He'd taken to putting lighted Matches 'neath his Hat, which glow'd along their Fuses and made him look the Compleat Vision of a Fiend from Hell.
1985 New Scientist 31 Oct. 38/2 Gunpowder is used to make match (a fuse). There are two types of match—raw match, which burns slowly, and quick match, which..burns quickly.
b. The material of which this is made; cord, etc., prepared for ignition. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > match, spill, or taper for lighting > material used for
match1572
towze-match1627
match paste1898
1572 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1889) IV. 143 Gunepowder and matche that wase had at the Watch on Mydsomer Evyn.
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres iii. 34 Three or foure yards of match, in seuerall peeces hanging at his girdle.
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia i. vii. 53 Fiue Lasts more of Powder, with Match and Lead.
1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 47 The outward Coat of the Nutt is good to make Match.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 195/2 When there is any apprehension of danger, his [sc. a gunner's] field-staff is armed with match.
1866 W. T. Brande & G. W. Cox Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art (new ed.) II. 476/1 Before the invention of locks, small arms were fired by means of match.
4. A short, slender piece of wood, cardboard, or (formerly) wax taper, tipped with a composition which ignites by friction when rubbed against a roughened surface, or (originally) when brought into contact with a chemical reagent. Cf. Lucifer n. 3.friction, paraffin, safety match, etc.: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > match, spill, or taper for lighting > specifically ignited by friction
allumette1601
fire cane1644
paper match1780
Strasbourg match1825
match1830
lucifer match1831
fusee1832
loco-foco1835
oxymuriatic match1835
Congreve1839
Vesta1839
friction-match1847
safety match1850
German Congreve1851
Vesuvian1853
star1862
safety1876
tandstickor1884
post-and-railsa1890
book match1899
Swan Vesta1908
1830 Lady Morgan France 1829–30 I. 54 A modern tenement of this class may be considered as a box of matches, or rather as a pile constructed for the express purpose of being involved in flames.
1830 Arcana Sci. & Art 127 M. Rochette..was one of the first persons who manufactured the oxygenated matches for sale.
1831 T. P. Jones New Conversat. Chem. xxiv. 245 These matches, after being covered with sulphur, are dipped into a mixture of chlorate of potassa, sugar, and sulphur, made into a paste with gum water. They are then dried, and when touched with sulphuric acid, instantaneously inflame.
1845 R. Browning Meeting at Night 10 The quick sharp scratch And blue spurt of a lighted match.
1870 C. Dickens Edwin Drood xii. 89 [He] puts a match or two in his pocket.
1889Paraffin match: [see sense 2a].
1922 ‘R. Crompton’ More William (1924) ix. 147 They refused to light, even with the aid of a match.
1952 P. Bowles Let it come Down xxv. 292 Give me a match... My candle's gone out.
1988 R. Christiansen Romantic Affinities i. 10 The apparent victory of the third estate had the effect of a match thrown into a box of fireworks.

Phrases

P1. to put (also set) a match to (also in, under): to set on fire by means of a match.
ΚΠ
1813 J. K. Paulding Lay of Sc. Fiddle ii. ix. 189 (note) Soon after the arrival of the first settlers, some Indians were employed by them, to drag a cannon by a long rope. While engaged in this business, some person..put a match to the touch-hole, and destroyed nearly every soul of them.
1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Squatter's Dream xiv. 157 For two pins I'd put a match in every gunyah on the place.
1920 E. Wharton Age of Innocence xxxii. 326 Archer..turned up the light, and put a match to the brackets on each side of the library mantelpiece.
1991 M. Duffy Illuminations (1992) 133 Hetty..lays a firelighter in a nest of kindling, sets a match to it.
P2. figurative. to shatter (also turn, etc.) to (also into) matches: to break into splinters or very small pieces. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1834 R. H. Horne Spirit Peers & People ii. i. 118 I'm not sure but the magazine will be fired, and we shall all be blown to matches and tinder!
a1864 R. S. Surtees Mr. Facey Romford's Hounds (1865) xxx. 176 An inveterate jibber and kicker..which..reduced the family phaeton to lucifer matches in a minute.
1873 T. E. Brown Christmas Rose 7 A ship that catches On the Scranes is very soon turned into matches.
1898 Times 10 Jan. 13/3 Captain Norie..whose left arm was shattered into matches by a bullet.

Compounds

C1. General attributive.
match holder n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > container or holder for tinder or matches
tinder-box1530
firebox1555
tinder1570
linstock1575
funk horn1673
spunk-box1721
phosphorus box1792
light box1816
spunk-flask1835
match-bottle1839
matchbox1853
match-pot1856
match-safe1860
punk-box1862
match-stand1873
match holder1884
book1899
safety box1902
matchbook1937
1884 Harper's Mag. Dec. 134/2 A porcelain match holder half full of matches.
1989 Miller's Collectables Price Guide 1989–90 212/1–2 Inkwell and match holder.
match-point n.
ΚΠ
1929 W. Faulkner Sartoris v. 351 The thick cables along the veranda eaves would be budding into small lilac match-points.
match-seller n.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of matches
match-man1612
match-seller1754
match-boy1819
match girl1828
spunk-fencer1839
1754 Secret Hist. Parl. 56 The rest who signed that Paper, were Rope-makers, Match-Sellers, City Pedlers, and such Pidling Dealers, as might make a Corner Cupboard their Warehouse.
1832 M. R. Mitford Our Village V. 7 Some poor wretch, beggar or match-seller.
1891 A. Conan Doyle in Strand Mag. Dec. 623 I took my station in the business part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a beggar.
1999 Sunday Oklahoman (Nexis) 9 May (Travel & Entertainment section) 1 Its central fixture is the match seller, who traditionally supplies matches and tobacco to the artists, poets and journalists who eat there.
match-selling n.
ΚΠ
1891 C. T. C. James Romantic Rigmarole 67 I..tried my hand at match-selling in the East-end.
1936 Econ. Jrnl. 46 756 The increase of match-selling is, in fact, due to a decline in effective demand.
match-stand n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > container or holder for tinder or matches
tinder-box1530
firebox1555
tinder1570
linstock1575
funk horn1673
spunk-box1721
phosphorus box1792
light box1816
spunk-flask1835
match-bottle1839
matchbox1853
match-pot1856
match-safe1860
punk-box1862
match-stand1873
match holder1884
book1899
safety box1902
matchbook1937
1873 Young Englishwoman July 357/2 This match-stand is made of pasteboard, covered with velvet.
1909 Chambers's Jrnl. Aug. 506/1 One lot tells us of ‘4 silver-mounted match-stands..and a quantity of imitation jewellery’.
C2.
matchbook n. chiefly North American a small cardboard folder of matches with a roughened surface for striking on the back.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > container or holder for tinder or matches
tinder-box1530
firebox1555
tinder1570
linstock1575
funk horn1673
spunk-box1721
phosphorus box1792
light box1816
spunk-flask1835
match-bottle1839
matchbox1853
match-pot1856
match-safe1860
punk-box1862
match-stand1873
match holder1884
book1899
safety box1902
matchbook1937
1937 Pop. Sci. Monthly Nov. 68/2 (caption) Match books get foolproof cover.
1966 H. Waugh Pure Poison (1967) xxiii. 140 The counter..boasted a ledger..a postcard rack and a basket of matchbooks advertising the motel.
1996 A. Walker & P. Shipman Wisdom of Bones i. 11 It was the size of a matchbook and the color of the pebbles.
† match-bottle n. Obsolete rare a small bottle containing phosphorus, for lighting sulphur matches.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > container or holder for tinder or matches
tinder-box1530
firebox1555
tinder1570
linstock1575
funk horn1673
spunk-box1721
phosphorus box1792
light box1816
spunk-flask1835
match-bottle1839
matchbox1853
match-pot1856
match-safe1860
punk-box1862
match-stand1873
match holder1884
book1899
safety box1902
matchbook1937
1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 954 Phosphoric match-bottles.
match-boy n. now historical a boy who sells matches.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of matches
match-man1612
match-seller1754
match-boy1819
match girl1828
spunk-fencer1839
1819 Sporting Mag. 5 122 Society of the present day, from the nobleman to the match-boy.
1846 F. S. L. Osgood Cries of N.Y. 27 I saw him upon nearer view, A beggar, yet a Match-boy too.
† matchcock n. Obsolete the cock in a matchlock; = cock n.1 17(a).
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > parts and fittings of firearms > [noun] > lock > match-cock
cock1566
matchcock1608
1608 J. Saris Let. 4 Dec. in W. Foster Lett. received by E. India Co. (1896) I. 23 I have mistaken myself in the pieces for I have written Snaphances, but they must be match cocks for they are best requested.
1636 in New Plymouth Colony Rec. (1861) XI. 14 One pound of powder..for eich matchcock peece.
1661 in New Plymouth Colony Rec. (1855) I. 44 One matchcock gun with a fier locke.
match-cord n. now rare a piece of rope prepared as a slow match; such rope collectively.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > cord or rope to light fireworks or guns
match?a1549
lunt1550
stouple1634
match-cord1647
slow match1651
quick-match1690
match-thread1740
match-line1824
punk1852
1647 N. Nye Art of Gunnery i. 38 A Gunner..is always, when leasure will permit, to choose good Matchcords.
1681 N. Grew Musæum Regalis Societatis i. ii. 3 A piece hereof fired, burns like Match-cord, all away to ashes.
1876 G. W. Thornbury Hist. & Legendary Ballads & Songs 256 Tie the match-cord round his thumb, Take this scarf and gag him dumb.
match girl n. now historical a girl who sells matches.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of matches
match-man1612
match-seller1754
match-boy1819
match girl1828
spunk-fencer1839
1828 W. T. Moncrieff Tom & Jerry ii. vi. 54 I'll relieve him, for I'll be after that match-girl directly.
1852 C. de Chatelain tr. H. C. Andersen Tales 301 The Little Match-Girl.
1981 T. C. Boyle Water Music (1983) ii. 253 As dawn stretches her rosy fingers over the rooftops of London, a harelipped match girl stumbles upon the writhing form of Claude M. Osprey.
match-head n. the flammable mass forming the tip of a match (sense 4).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > match, spill, or taper for lighting > specifically ignited by friction > part of
coal1590
matchstick1791
head1856
match splint1880
match-head1898
1898 Westm. Gaz. 17 Sept. 4/3 To Mr. Rosenthal belongs the credit of finding a paste for match-heads which is not poisonous.
1984 A. MacLean San Andreas i. 27 Some bright lad had used an igniting match-head or heads to do the trick.
match-line n. rare = match-cord n.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > cord or rope to light fireworks or guns
match?a1549
lunt1550
stouple1634
match-cord1647
slow match1651
quick-match1690
match-thread1740
match-line1824
punk1852
1824 S. R. Meyrick Crit. Inq. into Antient Armour III. 77 The soldier is made to carry the match-line lighted at both ends.
match machine n. a machine for making or dispensing matches.
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1410/1 Young's match-machine cuts the splints from a block or bolt of wood.
1914 S. Lewis Our Mr. Wrenn xiii. 172 The cashier-girl exclaimed, ‘No indeedy; it's my turn!’ and lifted the match machine to a high shelf behind her.
match-man n. †(a) a man who ignites an explosive substance or fires a cannon or other heavy gun by means of a match (sense 3a) (obsolete); (b) a man who sells matches (now historical).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > selling > seller > sellers of specific things > [noun] > seller of matches
match-man1612
match-seller1754
match-boy1819
match girl1828
spunk-fencer1839
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by branch of army > [noun] > artilleryman > assistants
match-man1612
fireworker1617
matross1639
bombardier1688
gun-lascar1798
sponger1828
horse-holder1837
cartridge-filler1871
society > armed hostility > warrior > armed man > [noun] > one armed with or using firearm > artilleryman > assistants
match-man1612
fireworker1617
matross1639
bombardier1688
gun-lascar1798
horse-holder1837
cartridge-filler1871
1612 R. Sheldon Motives 9 Hee..entertained Guy Fawkes, the Powder-matchman, some diuers whole daies together, before his comming into England.
1681 ‘Philopatris’ Plot in Dream vi. 155 I met with a crew of Matchmen and Souldiers that guarded along three or four persons.
1815 W. L. Bowles Missionary vii. 128 Last rolled the heavy guns, a sable tier, By Indians drawn, with matchmen in the rear.
1904 Daily Chron. 23 June 3/2 The match~man, with his bundles of great sulphur-tipped matches, whom ‘you could smell a mile off’.
match-paper n. now rare touchpaper or other paper soaked in a flammable solution.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > touch-wood-paper
tindera700
tache1393
toucha1500
kindlinga1522
touchwood1575
spunk1582
matchwood1597
lint1612
funk1673
firelighter1771
saltpetre paper1832
match-paper1883
1883 Encycl. Brit. XV. 625/1 Instead of tinder, match-paper or touch-paper..and amadou or German tinder..were often used.
1889 H. Johnston Chron. Glenbuckie 19 Just put a fingerfu' o' poother i' the pan, and set lowe to it wi' a bit o' match-paper.
match paste n. now rare the chemical paste used to make the heads of matches.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > match, spill, or taper for lighting > material used for
match1572
towze-match1627
match paste1898
1898 Westm. Gaz. 19 July 10/1 The Belgian Government has voted a sum of £2,000..to anyone who can compound a marketable match-paste without the aid of yellow phosphorus.
1902 Econ. Jrnl. 12 558 The composition of the match paste is not stated and is apparently regarded as a trade secret.
† match pipe n. Obsolete rare a pipe holding a lighted match for a matchlock.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > parts and fittings of firearms > [noun] > other specific parts
touch plate1508
maniglion1704
gun-lock screw1731
match pipe1740
quoin of mire1797
bricole1809
tumbler-screw1843
training wheel1875
hand1880
side lever1892
gun-lock spring1894
gun control1909
magazine well1948
1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (ed. 2) App. p. lxiv The match-pipes, the most preferable of which are either iron, lead, or wood,..should be..filled with slow charges.
match-pot n. now historical a small vessel for holding matches.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > container or holder for tinder or matches
tinder-box1530
firebox1555
tinder1570
linstock1575
funk horn1673
spunk-box1721
phosphorus box1792
light box1816
spunk-flask1835
match-bottle1839
matchbox1853
match-pot1856
match-safe1860
punk-box1862
match-stand1873
match holder1884
book1899
safety box1902
matchbook1937
1856 J. C. Robinson Inventory Mus. Ornamental Art 37 Wedgwood Match-pot... Pair of Match-pots.
1882 Hamilton Palace Collection Catal. No. 600 A two-handled Chinese Vase and Cover, of rock crystal, with a matchpot at the side.
match-safe n. U.S. (now historical) a small case or holder for matches.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > container or holder for tinder or matches
tinder-box1530
firebox1555
tinder1570
linstock1575
funk horn1673
spunk-box1721
phosphorus box1792
light box1816
spunk-flask1835
match-bottle1839
matchbox1853
match-pot1856
match-safe1860
punk-box1862
match-stand1873
match holder1884
book1899
safety box1902
matchbook1937
1860 W. D. Howells in Saturday Press 11 Aug. 1/3 Bubble-thin goblets, and dainty match-safes.
1884 Harper's Mag. Sept. 581/2 Takes out a cigar and looks in match-safe.
1973 Islander (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 19 Aug. 6/3 We pitched camp and dried our blankets and clothes. Each of us carried a match safe so our chinese block matches were dry.
match splint n. rare a matchstick.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > match, spill, or taper for lighting > specifically ignited by friction > part of
coal1590
matchstick1791
head1856
match splint1880
match-head1898
1880 M. P. Bale Woodworking Machinery xxviii. 252 Machines for cutting match splints.
match-staff n. rare a staff used on a ship to hold a slow match (see quot. 1890).
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. Match-staff, a staff with a slot in the upper end and a spike in the lower, used on shipboard to hold a slow-match.
† match-thread n. Obsolete rare thread prepared as match for firing guns, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > cord or rope to light fireworks or guns
match?a1549
lunt1550
stouple1634
match-cord1647
slow match1651
quick-match1690
match-thread1740
match-line1824
punk1852
1740 G. Smith tr. Laboratory (ed. 2) App. p. lxiii Put in the match-thread; and stir it about, till it has drawn in all the matter.
† match tub n. Obsolete a tub with a perforated cover, in which slow matches are hung with the lighted end downwards, ready for use, on warships (the bottom of the tub would often contain water, to quench sparks).
ΚΠ
1794 A. Thomas Newfoundland Jrnl. (1968) iii. 40 The saucepan floated, and poising itself,..rested..on the topsy turvey end of a match Tub.
1829 G. Jones Sketches Naval Life I. 97 While the rest are washing decks..the quarter gunners clean the match tubs, shot boxes, gun carriages and guns.
1841 Southern Literary Messenger Apr. 284/1 We can readily imagine how and old ‘Salt’..seated upon a ‘Match Tub’..would chuckle over its humor.
matchwood n. †(a) touchwood (obsolete); (b) light wood of poor quality, suitable for making into matchsticks; (c) very small pieces or splinters of wood.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > material for igniting > [noun] > touch-wood-paper
tindera700
tache1393
toucha1500
kindlinga1522
touchwood1575
spunk1582
matchwood1597
lint1612
funk1673
firelighter1771
saltpetre paper1832
match-paper1883
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > [noun] > wood of inferior quality
chipwood1838
matchwood1838
frowy-stuff1858
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > [noun] > wood for other specific uses
mazera1200
waywoodware1334
piling1422
tenter-timber1562
pinwood1580
mazer wood1594
stop-rice1653
pudlay1679
puncheon1686
veneer1702
pit-wood1715
broach-wood1835
chipwood1838
matchwood1838
fretwood1881
pulpwood1881
coffin-wood1883
bur1885
spool-wood1895
1597 J. Gerard Herball Table Eng. Names Matchwoode, that is Touchwoode.
1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 396/1 We wish we could see a series of experiments made upon a more enlarged scale than upon these bits of match wood.
1887 Lady 20 Jan. 38/3 The huts tumbled into matchwood.
1964 M. McLuhan Understanding Media (1967) ii. xxxi. 341 Shoddy match-wood bars and hotel lobbies.
1981 L. Lawrence Earth Witch (1982) xx. 156 She caught it between her jaws and snapped it in two as if it were matchwood.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

matchadj.

Brit. /matʃ/, U.S. /mætʃ/
Forms: late Middle English–1600s matche, 1600s– match.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: match n.1; match v.1
Etymology: Partly (especially in early use) < match n.1, and partly < match v.1 In most of the compounds at Compounds probably an attributive use of the stem of match v.1 (compare the compounds at matched adj.).
1. Equal in rank or ability; similar in appearance. With to. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1483 W. Caxton tr. Caton E viij b Thou oughtest to forbere and to favoure in tyme and place hym whyche thou knowest not matche ne lyke to the.
1526 R. Amadas Acct. Plate made for Cardinal Wolsey in J. Gutch Collectanea Curiosa (1781) II. xxviii. 317 Item the new dressing uppe of twoo odar Goblitts matche to the same new Goblitte..iijs. iiijd.
2. Corresponding, matching. Now only in certain technical compounds: see Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adjective] > corresponding or analogous
accordingc1300
proportionate?a1425
proportionablec1443
correspondentc1460
agreeable1540
answerable1551
match1551
analogical1577
suitablea1586
parallela1610
analogal1610
correlativea1626
matching1630
analogic1638
analogous1644
commensurate1644
samea1687
companion1766
homologous1837
to match1838
homological1849
homologic1880
homothetic1886
tallied1895
matched1925
1551 R. Record Pathway to Knowl. ii. i The whole triangles be of one greatnes, and euery angle in the one equall to his matche angle in the other.
1556 R. Record Castle of Knowl. 207 That arke of the Equinoctiall is equall with his matche arke in the Zodiacke.
1600 T. Hylles Arte Vulgar Arithm. ii. viii. 119 b Wherefore each couple of them which so agree and match together in like sirname or quality are..properly to be called matchtermes.
1600 T. Hylles Arte Vulgar Arithm. ii. viii. 128 b I see..that 21/ 2 ells..is the third number..and that 1/ 4 of an ell being the matche terme thereof is the first.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 53 Two Match half-Joynts fastned on the Frame of the Tympan.

Compounds

match dissolve n. Film and Television a technique by which one picture merges into another having the same or a similar object in the same place; an example of this (see dissolve v. 7b).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > filming > special effect > [noun] > others
mix1922
iris-in1929
iris-out1929
superimposition1931
wipe1933
hanging miniature1937
matched dissolve1953
match dissolve1959
super1959
multiple image1965
1959 W. S. Sharps Dict. Cinematogr. 110/1 Match dissolve, the overlapping of two shots so that, because of the identical positions of their subjects, only one person or object appears to be seen about the point of overlap.
1970 W. Wager Sledgehammer (1971) ix. 39 Match dissolve. That's a film term for a standard motion-picture transition, say, from the face of a clock in a police chief's office to the face of another clock in the senator's bedroom.
1993 MacWeek 26 Apr. 62/2 An eight-minute motivational video with more than 100 individual edits, many match dissolves and extensive beat cutting.
match-gearing n. rare a gearing consisting of two cogwheels of equal diameter.
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1410/1 Match-gearing,..two cog-wheels of equal diameter geared together.
match-hook n. Nautical rare a pair of hooks which shut together in such a way that each forms a mousing for the other.
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1410/1 Match-hook, a double hook or pair of hooks in which one portion forms a mousing for the other.
† match-joint n. Obsolete = matched joint n. at matched adj. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > specific parts built or constructed > [noun] > joint > types of
gemew?a1400
match-joint1683
matched joint1688
joggle1703
water joint1810
pin-joint1835
shackle-joint1837
screw shackle1847
through-joint1851
joggling1858
leg joint1858
splice1875
bed-joint1876
butting joint1887
saddle joint1901
contraction joint1909
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 290 The Frisket must be Cut: which to perform, the Press-man fits the Match-Joynts of the Frisket into the Match-Joynts of the Tympan, and pins them in with the Frisket-pins.
match-mark n. (a) a mark made on parts of a device which fit together, to facilitate reassembly after dismantling; (b) a line on glassware formed when two moulded parts are joined.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > marking > a mark > [noun] > mark to aid reassembly of part
match-mark1918
1918 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. Add. Match-mark.., a mark placed on the contiguous separable parts of any device to aid in the proper reassembling of any of those parts.
1962 Gloss. Terms Glass Industry (B.S.I.) 41 Match mark, a line or seam on glassware formed at the join of two mould parts.
match-needle adj. Photography designating or relating to a technique for obtaining correct exposure, which involves varying the shutter-speed setting of a camera until two needles, one of which is controlled by a built-in light meter, become aligned in the viewfinder.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > photography > action of taking photograph > technical factors > [adjective] > technique for obtaining correct exposure
match-needle1970
1970 SLR Yearbk. 169/3 Semi-automatic, match-needle system.
1991 Buying Cameras Mar. 33 The match-needle metering is simplicity itself to use and provides correct exposures almost every time.
match plane n. Woodworking either of two planes used to made matchboarding, forming the groove and the tongue respectively.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > shaping tools or equipment > plane > [noun] > for cutting grooves
plough plane1645
plough1678
router1818
fillister1819
match plane1833
old woman's tooth1846
router plane1846
trenching-plane1859
matching plane1875
guillaume1885
1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. §297 The edge of one board grooved, and the adjoining board tongued, with a pair of planes fitting into each other, called match planes.
1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic §395 Match planes are so called because the width of the projection left by one plane matches or tallies exactly with the width or groove cut by the other.
match plate n. Founding a plate having half of a pattern mounted on either side, used in making moulds for casting.
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1410/2 Match-plate,..a plate upon the opposite sides of which the halves of a pattern are placed correspondingly, to facilitate the operation of molding.
1955 R. W. Heine & P. C. Rosenthal Princ. Metal Casting iv. 53 Match-plate molding..is perhaps the simplest method of speeding up the molding of small castings.
1963 F. D. Jones & P. B. Schubert Engin. Encycl. (ed. 3) 803 For many classes of work there is no better form of pattern than the double-faced match plate.
match wagon n. Railways (a) an auxiliary wagon which supports the jib of a crane carried on an adjoining vehicle; (b) a wagon used to link carriages with different couplings.
ΚΠ
1883 Rules & Regulations (Great Western Railway) 90 (Rule 137) The Station Master..and the Head Guard of the train, must, before a Crane is attached to a Goods Train, take care that all the fastenings..are in good condition and applied, and that the necessary match-waggons are provided.
1985 D. Rowland Brit. Railways Wagons ii. 40/2 Phantom match wagons..had no means of carrying a load, purely being intended to protect overhanging loads on adjacent wagons.
1993 Mod. Railways July 419/3 A locomotive with a Scharfenburg coupler fitted match wagon would have to rescue the stranded train.
match-wheel n. rare a cogwheel designed to mesh with another.
ΚΠ
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1411/1 Match-wheel, a cog-wheel adapted to mesh into or work with another.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

matchv.1

Brit. /matʃ/, U.S. /mætʃ/
Forms: Middle English macche, Middle English machche, Middle English mache, Middle English mech, Middle English–1600s mach, late Middle English–1600s (1800s (Scottish)) matche, 1500s metch, 1500s– match.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: match n.1
Etymology: < match n.1
I. To come or bring together as equals or associates.
1.
a. transitive. To join in marriage, esp. with reference to the suitability or unsuitability of the pairing; to procure a marriage partner for (a son, daughter, etc.); to connect (a family) by marriage. Later usually in weakened sense: to pair (a person) with a potential romantic partner. Also: †to mate (animals) (obsolete rare). Chiefly with up with, with, †to, †unto, †up to.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > match-making > match [verb (transitive)]
matcha1393
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > rear animals [verb (transitive)] > breed > put to for breeding
put?1523
to put to?1523
match1530
matea1593
submit1697
couple1721
breed1886
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 5422 Sche was evele macched And fer from alle loves kinde.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 633/2 I matche the male and the female togyther of any kynde... And you can matche this bitche you shall have pretye whelpes.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 40/1 Whose blood..was ful vnmetely to be matched with his.
1587 J. Hooker Chron. Ireland 137/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) II They were..by waie of mariages matched and combined with honourable and great houses.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) iii. i. 62 I haue sought To match my friend Sir Thurio, to my daughter. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost xi. 685 Those ill-mated Marriages..Where good with bad were matcht . View more context for this quotation
a1684 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1680 (1955) IV. 219 He..Match'd his Eldest Sonn to Mrs. Trallop.
1703 J. Tipper in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 305 I am heartily glad your dear Sister is so happily match'd to Mr. Stevens.
1731 H. Fielding Welsh Opera i. ii. 3 Now I rely on you to Match them up to one another.
1754 S. Foote Knights ii. 42 Tim has fallen in Love with a young Woman.., and 'tis partly to prevent bad Consequences that I am,..so hasty to match him.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Ulysses in Poems (new ed.) II. 88 An idle king..Match'd with an aged wife.
1878 R. Simpson School of Shakspere I. 25 Henry II. proposed to match him with some great heiress.
1968 Economist 3 Feb. 18/1 The present fad for computer-dating—matching people with people.
1986 R. Ingalls Pearlkillers 13 After her first husband had died..everybody had started trying to match her up with somebody.
†b. transitive (reflexive). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (reflexive)]
spousea1225
weda1225
spouse1340
marryc1350
matchc1400
mingle1487
nuptialize1678
c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. x. 199 Maidenis & maidenis, macche [v.rr. macchit, marie] ȝow ysamme.
1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) ii. 89 Povertie bringeth.., that he is sometime driven to match himselfe in marriage with some woman of base parentage.
c. intransitive. To join oneself in marriage, to marry. Usually with with. Also: †(of animals) to mate (obsolete rare). Now British regional. †to match into (a family): to become connected by marriage with (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (intransitive)]
weda1225
marrya1325
spousec1390
to make matrimonyc1400
intermarry1528
contract1530
to give (also conjoin, join, take) in (also to, into) marriage1535
to make a match1547
yoke1567
match1569
mate1589
to go to church (with a person)1600
to put one's neck in a noosec1600
paira1616
to join giblets1647
buckle1693
espouse1693
to change (alter) one's condition1712
to tie the knot1718
to marry out1727
to wedlock it1737
solemnize1748
forgather1768
unite1769
connubiate1814
conjugalize1823
connubialize1870
splice1874
to get hitched up1890
to hook up1903
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > sexual organs and reproduction > [verb (intransitive)] > copulate
to go to (the) bull (also cow, horse, etc.)a1393
entera1425
makea1522
lime1555
match1569
generate1605
copulate1632
fere1632
strene1820
pair1908
mate1927
to saw a chunk off1961
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > action or fact of marrying > marry [verb (transitive)] > become connected with by marrying
to match into1647
to marry into1650
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 670 Not to be vnworthy to matche in matrimonie, with the greatest Prince of the worlde.
?c1570 Buggbears ii. v, in R. W. Bond Early Plays from Italian (1911) 110 I Cannott abyde to tarrye here the while To see youe matche with her.
1586 G. Pettie & B. Yong tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (rev. ed.) iv. f. 226v It is (saide Lord Iohn) a greate griefe of the minde, and heart breaking, to match with a foolishe Woman.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 58 Truely I holde it a sinne to match in my kinred.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues S'Apparier, to couple, or match; as birds doe in the Spring.
1620 T. Gataker Mariage Praier 8 They shall neuer haue my blessing..if they match without my consent.
1647 J. Sprigge Anglia Rediviva i. ii. 8 He matched into a most noble and martial family.
1681 J. Dryden Spanish Fryar iv. ii. 63 Let Tygers match with Hinds, and Wolfs with Sheep.
a1736 R. A. Hay in J. Maidment Spottiswoode Misc. I. 5 This marks rather that the Spotwoods have matched with the Gordons.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. iii. 30 If he had birth and fortune to entitle him to match into such a family as our's.
1820 W. Hazlitt Lect. Dramatic Lit. 348 A young woman..who would not think of matching with a fellow of low birth.
1865 W. H. L. Tester Poems 220 Auld maids we'll grow, Unless we match wi' somebody.
d. intransitive. To arrange marriages. rare.
ΚΠ
1841 E. C. Grey Little Wife xxx. 162 If you go on pairing and matching in this manner..you will be the terror of the whole of the male species.
†2.
a. transitive (reflexive). To make an agreement with; to become acquainted with. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement [verb (reflexive)]
matchc1400
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 99 Maches hym wyth þe maryneres, makes her paye, For-to towe hym in-to Tarce.
b. transitive. To join (two people or things) in companionship or cooperation; to put together so as to form a pair or set with (another person or thing). Cf. sense 5a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > accompaniment > accompany or attend [verb (transitive)] > associate
match1508
attend1605
consociate1889
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > two > pair > arrange in pairs [verb (transitive)]
match1508
pair1578
intwin1613
fellow1654
to pair off1816
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. dv Quhen thai war machit at mete ye mare and ye myn.
a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) ii. xix. sig. M.vi When God hath by suche chaunce sente him to me, and there once matched me with hym, I reckon my selfe surely charged with him, till [etc.].
1585 Abp. E. Sandys Serm. iii. 47 Matching alwaies with iustice mercie.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost ii. i. 49 A sharpe Wit matcht with too blunt a Will. View more context for this quotation
1599 H. Holland in R. Greenham Wks. 1 Some busie themselues in Church-discipline, and are slender sighted in their priuie corruptions:..but it is good to match both together.
1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing ii. i. 97 God match me with a good dauncer. View more context for this quotation
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. I3v [Adrian] hauing his [sc. Christ's] picture in his Gallerie, matched with Apollonius. View more context for this quotation
1645 J. Ussher Body of Divin. (1647) 68 It was matched with many infirmities and passions.
3.
a. transitive. To encounter with equal power; to be a match for, to rival. Formerly also: †to encounter as an adversary, to fight (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > equal, match, or rival
matchc1400
to hold, rarely have, tack with (to)1412
equalize15..
mate1509
touch1530
to hold (a person, etc.) tack (to tack)1555
equal1590
egall1591
countermatch1600
to weigh with (also even with)1600
emulate1602
side1605
compeer1608
pair1619
mount1628
amate1642
to hold weight witha1643
to be (also prove oneself) a match for1712
peel1726
to hold the sticks toa1817
to bear or stand comparison with1845
see1861
tie1888
society > society and the community > dissent > contention or strife > carry on (a contest, fight, etc.) [verb (transitive)] > contend with > in a well-matched contest
matchc1400
cope with1582
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 282 Here is no mon me to mach.
a1450 York Plays (1885) 278 Oure meyne with myght At mydnyght hym mached.
a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 581 Ye ar nat able to macche a good knyght!
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 7042 Manly he macchit hom with his mayn strokes.
1587 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Iland Brit. (new ed.) ii. iii. 148/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) I The townesmen of both [Oxford and Cambridge] are glad when they may match and annoie the students.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iii. ii. 306 You perhaps, may thinke, Because she is something lower then my selfe, That I can match her. View more context for this quotation
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 39 Tell me, if God had not matched thee, who could?
1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 cxc. 48 Sharp remembrance on the English part, And shame of being match'd by such a foe: Rouze conscious vertue up in every heart.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 173 No knight in England could match him in the tournament except the Duke of Suffolk.
1986 K. Ishiguro Artist of Floating World 173 We are now a mighty nation, capable of matching any of the Western nations.
†b. intransitive. To engage in combat, to fight. Also with against, with. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight [verb (intransitive)]
fightc900
deal993
wraxlec1000
skirm?c1225
makec1275
mellc1300
to fight togethera1400
meddlec1400
match1440
wring1470
cobc1540
toilc1540
strike1579
beat1586
scuffle1590
exchange blows1594
to bang it out or aboutc1600
buffeta1616
tussle1638
dimicate1657
to try a friskin1675
to battle it1821
muss1851
scrap1874
to mix it1905
dogfight1929
yike1940
to go upside (someone's) head1970
1440 J. Capgrave Life St. Norbert (1977) l. 991 The deuel hatȝ aspied..his absens. He bendith his bowe to loke if he may schete, Or wayte for to hurt hem, whech in his presens He durst neythir mech witȝ ne mete.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 3607 To mache with sike a multitude of men & of bestis.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 42 Quhen xl macht [v.r. matchit] agayne thre hundyr men.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 9678 Thus macchit þose men till the merke night.
1559–66 in D. Laing Misc. Wodrow Soc. (1844) 69 The Congregation and the Frenchmen were often assembled, and were neare matching.
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 86 The Falcon is a bird of haughtie stomacke matching with birdes a great deale bigger and mightier then him selfe.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) ii. i. 330 Strength matcht with strength, and power confronted power. View more context for this quotation
4. transitive. To place in opposition or conflict with; to pit (a person or thing) against another in a trial or contest; to pair (a team member) up against an opposition player. Frequently reflexive and passive. Formerly also with †to, †on.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > oppose [verb (transitive)] > set in opposition
set1297
gain-set1435
matchc1440
oppone1463
to set upa1586
oppose1600
counterpone1629
antipose1631
antipathize1667
pit1754
antagonize1849
society > society and the community > dissent > competition or rivalry > compete with [verb (transitive)] > set in competition
couple1362
comparison1382
matchc1440
commit1614
measure1720
pit1754
pitch1801
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 1533 Þay hafe bene machede todaye with men of þe marchez.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. (1812) I. cxxx. 158 He is hardely matched, wherfore he hathe nede of your ayde.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy 8288 He macchit hym to Menelay.
1578 Christian Prayers 118 b The sinfulnes that we haue receaued from our first Parents, hath matched the rebellious flesh against..the mind.
?c1600 (c1515) Sc. Field (Lyme) 199 in I. F. Baird Poems Stanley Family (D.Phil. thesis, Univ. of Birm.) (1990) 238 On who was thou mached?
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 631 Eternal might To match with thir inventions they presum'd So easie. View more context for this quotation
1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 580 The estate his sires had owned in ancient years Was quickly distanced, matched against a peer's.
1792 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry I. i. 13 He is a common plough horse..and can scarce go beyond a trot; much less match himself with your blooded horses.
1840 T. De Quincey Style in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 2/2 What if a man should match such a bauble against the Pantheon?
1855 C. Kingsley Heroes (1868) v. ii. 156 Let them match their song against mine.
1903 Expositor Aug. 113 They had to match themselves against the wily Greek or Syrian trader.
1922 V. Woolf Jacob's Room ii. 42 There is the captain, buttoned in his pea-jacket, matched with the storm, vanquished by it but by none other.
1959 F. McGuire Defensive Basketball i. 11 We assign (match up) players to particular opponents on the basis of height, speed, weight, and other characteristics.
1988 N.Y. Times 20 June c7/1 Scott went to the second option, posting up Abdul-Jabbar against Bill Laimbeer, who was matched up against him.
1991 Professional Engin. July 71/3 They match their various skills and abilities against a very fickle task.
5.
a. transitive. To arrange or pair (people or things) according to fitness or equality; to place in a suitable or equal pairing or set; to provide with an adversary or competitor of equal power. Also with up. Frequently in passive, often with modifying word, as well, ill, unequally, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > two > pair > arrange in pairs [verb (transitive)] > with view to fitness or equality
matchc1440
pair1613
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 2904 The ryalle renkkes..Mellis with the medillwarde, but they ware ill machede.
a1450 ( tr. Vegetius De Re Militari (Douce) f. 78 He maccheþ his horsmen and þe enemyes horsmen to gidre, wheþer strong aȝenst strong oþer feble aȝenst feble.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 633/2 I matche one with a felowe, I set one to another that be equall of power and strength.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iv. i. 122 My hounds are bred out of the Spartane kinde..Slowe in pursuit; but matcht in mouth like bels. View more context for this quotation
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet ii. ii. 474 Vnequall matcht, Pirrhus at Priam driues, in rage strikes wide. View more context for this quotation
?a1645 A. Stafford Just Apol. in Life Blessed Virgin (1860) p. xli Never Prince & Church-man were better matcht then theise two.
1696 R. Howlett School Recreat. (new ed.) 146 Match your Cock carefully.
1741 C. Middleton Hist. Life Cicero II. x. 392 Cicero all the while, like a master of Gladiators, matching us and ordering the Combat.
1842 M. R. Mitford in A. G. L'Estrange Life M. R. Mitford (1870) III. ix. 142 In point of wearisome insipidity Sir Robert and Lord John are well matched one against the other.
1859 C. Darwin Origin of Species i. 34 The savages in South Africa match their draught cattle by colour.
1874 A. H. Sayce Princ. Compar. Philol. v. 181 Compatibility of existence on the part of two races depends upon their being more or less nearly matched in culture.
1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. i. iii. 27 The two great antagonists..were more fairly matched than Becket perhaps expected to find them.
1905 F. E. Clements Res. Methods Ecol. iv. 238 It is seldom..that the facies and invaders are so equally matched in height and other qualities that they remain in equilibrium.
1986 Philadelphia Inquirer 11 July 6 c/1 If you've got 80 guys, then you can match up personalities, but when you've got two guys, it's stupid to have that rule.
b. transitive. To make correspondent or fitting. With to, with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > adaptation or adjustment > adapt or adjust [verb (transitive)] > cause to correspond or agree
reciprocate1620
match1680
answer1726
to key to ——1910
to key into ——1931
1680 Earl of Roscommon tr. Horace Art of Poetry 4 Let Poets match their Subject to their strength.
1708 N. Rowe Royal Convert iii. i. 29 Mine [sc. my hopes] have been still Match'd with my Birth.
1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer ii. 27 I always match my appetite to the bill of fare.
1861 J. G. Whittier Our River 71 To match our spirits to our day And make a joy of duty.
a1888 M. Arnold Thekla's Answer v God doth match His gifts to man's believing.
1957 J. Bishop Day Christ Died (1959) 259 Musicians..trying to match the mood of the music to the mood of what was happening on the tanbark floor.
II. To be or make equal or complementary.
6.
a. transitive. To be equal to; to be the equal of in extent or degree; to correspond to; to be the match or fitting counterpart of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > be equal to or match
to be even witheOE
match?1529
countervail1530
even1582
suit1583
patterna1586
amate1590
proportionate1590
parallela1594
fellow1596
to hold its level with1598
adequate1599
coequal1599
twin1605
paragonize1606
peer1614
to come upa1616
proportiona1616
paragon1620
parallelize1620
tail1639
to match up to (also with)1958
?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman i. ix. sig. K Thou dost nat only matche the pagane in Satanas pompe, but also passest her.
1590 W. Clever Flower of Phisicke 75 Blood may according to proportion be matched in children and adolescencie alike, & yet their heate may exceed one aboue another.
1593 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis sig. Giijv All loues pleasure shall not match his wo. View more context for this quotation
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) iv. 40 In shorte tyme they are like to match the other inhabitaunts in nomber.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §44 All the valiant acts of Curtius, Scevola, or Codrus, do not parallel or match that one of Job. View more context for this quotation
1663 S. Butler Hudibras: First Pt. i. i. 14 For his Religion it was fit To match his Learning and his Wit.
1781 W. Cowper Charity 118 He..Imports what others have invented well, And stirs his own to match them or excel.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci iii. ii. 54 Marzio's hate Matches Olimpio's.
1853 C. Brontë Villette III. xxxviii. 177 Life is so constructed, that the event does not, cannot, will not, match the expectation.
1884 Manch. Examiner 17 May 4/8 There exists in no Continental country anything that can match the City and Guilds' Institute.
1924 M. Webb Precious Bane (1946) ii. v. 96 Even a summer day can seldom match such a day as that, when the snow is but just gone and the waters freed.
1973 N. Monsarrat Kappillan of Malta 275 All that need be said of the Turks was that they matched the Knights in bravery.
2003 L. A. G. Palazzolo Horn Man xxvii. 315/1 Staś's capacity for enduring pain is matched by his capacity for seeing humor in everything around him.
b. intransitive. To be equal with; to be suitably coupled with; †to correspond, be suitable to (obsolete). Also: to fit exactly or dovetail into (rare). Frequently in to match up to (also with): to equal, to be as good as or comparable with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > be or become equal [verb (intransitive)] > be equal or find one's match (of persons)
make?a1300
to meet (also find) one's matchc1300
to be matchesa1470
match1536
parallela1594
paira1616
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > be equal to or match
to be even witheOE
match?1529
countervail1530
even1582
suit1583
patterna1586
amate1590
proportionate1590
parallela1594
fellow1596
to hold its level with1598
adequate1599
coequal1599
twin1605
paragonize1606
peer1614
to come upa1616
proportiona1616
paragon1620
parallelize1620
tail1639
to match up to (also with)1958
1536 J. Rastell Will in H. R. Plomer Abstr. Wills Eng. Printers (1903) 5 I make his grace and my poore neighbour Rauf Cressey myn executours not because he is able to match wt his moste noble grace but because [etc.].
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 32v But herein good heed must be taken, least we match and march with the greeke Sophister.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 39v It groweth..to suche a heyght, that it matcheth with indifferent Trees.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) ii. iv. 130 To that end, as matching to his Youth and Vanitie, I did present him with the Paris-Balls. View more context for this quotation
1866 Duke of Argyll Reign of Law vii. 377 Other minds were working at the same time whose labours were to match with a curious fittingness into his.
1958 Times 18 Sept. 13/3 But Blanche can match up to Emily, indeed she surpasses her in the end.
1978 Gramophone Aug. 401/1 Quite a number use small loudspeakers which hardly match up with the quality obtainable from the rest.
1987 D. Rowe Beyond Fear xi. 385 People who are..trying to get rid of their hateful old self and find a new self which matches up to their impossibly high standards.
c. transitive. To resemble sufficiently as to be suitably put together; to form an appropriate or fitting complement for. Also intransitive: (of two or more things) to possess identical or complementary characteristics; to go or fit together (also with up).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree, harmonize, or be congruous with [verb (transitive)] > go with or match
to fall in1577
to go with ——1710
match1722
assort1800
neighbour1820
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree/be in harmony/be congruous [verb (intransitive)] > be compatible > match, go, or fit together
suit1589
besort1608
match1850
go1940
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 333 It might match some [spoons] I had in the Country.
1794 Diary; or Evening Reg. 1 July 1/2 (advt.) Coach and Livery Lace made to match any pattern or colour.
1843 Godey's Lady's Bk. Aug. 96 The corsage is tight to the figure..and trimmed down the centre to match the skirt.
1850 R. W. Emerson Shakspeare in Representative Men v. 205 Read the antique documents..; and now read one of those skiey sentences,..and tell me if they match.
1873 T. Hardy Pair of Blue Eyes II. i. 10 The satin of the parasol invariably matching the complexion of the face beneath it, yet seemingly by an accident.
1905 N.E.D. (at cited word) The colour of the carpet does not match the wallpaper. These patterns do not match.
1974 Index-Jrnl. (Greenwood, S. Carolina) 23 Apr. 9/1 Specifically why I'm running for governor, is because my experience has been in management and administration. The requirements of the job and my experience match up.
1983 ‘W. Trevor’ Fools of Fortune i. v. 111 She put on her red and black dress, with a hat that perfectly matched it.
d. to match (used as a postmodifying non-finite clause): corresponding in a particular respect, such as number, size, style, etc., with something already mentioned.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adjective] > corresponding or analogous
accordingc1300
proportionate?a1425
proportionablec1443
correspondentc1460
agreeable1540
answerable1551
match1551
analogical1577
suitablea1586
parallela1610
analogal1610
correlativea1626
matching1630
analogic1638
analogous1644
commensurate1644
samea1687
companion1766
homologous1837
to match1838
homological1849
homologic1880
homothetic1886
tallied1895
matched1925
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist II. xxxii. 232 A tall gentleman in..drab breeches, and boots with tops to match.
1891 Leeds Mercury 27 Apr. 4/7 Theresa..was attired in wine-coloured velvet, and wore a jet bonnet, trimmed with velvet to match.
1965 ‘W. Trevor’ Boarding-house xiii. 149 His mentors, who would expect of so high a fellow intelligence to match.
1996 N. Maraire Zenzele i. 4 I yearned for little else than my own room with pretty blue curtains and a bedspread to match.
†7. transitive. To regard, treat, or speak of as equal with. Also: to regard (two things) as equal. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > regard or speak of as equal
match1580
bracket1861
1580 Sir P. Sidney tr. Psalmes David xxvi. v Sweete Lord, write not my soule Within the sinner's rowle: Nor my life's cause match with blood seekers case.
1597 Bp. J. King Serm. Queenes Day, 1595 in Lect. Ionas 700 Whensoever afterwards, there was taken vp any great lamentation, it was sampled and matched with that of Hadadrimmon, in the field of Megiddo.
1605 A. Willet Hexapla in Genesin 468 This is great presumption..to match Gods arke and Iosephs coffin together.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 194 To match vs in comparisons with durt, To weaken our discredit, our exposure. View more context for this quotation
8.
a. transitive. To place in competition with; to compare in respect of superiority with. Cf. sense 4. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > compare [verb (transitive)] > in competition
match1581
sample1592
second1600
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions xxxix. 192 If in comparison ye match a toward priuate teacher with a weake publike maister.
1599 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet ii. Chorus 4 That faire..With tender Iuliet match [1623 matcht], is now not faire. View more context for this quotation
a1649 W. Drummond in Wks. (1711) 226 The Earl of Surrey, Sir Thomas Wyat (whom, because of their Antiquity, I will not match with our better Times).
1716 A. Pope Epist. Jervas in J. Dryden tr. C. A. du Fresnoy Art of Painting (ed. 2) sig. A7 Each heavenly Piece unwearied we compare, Match Raphael's Grace, with thy lov'd Guido's Air.
1791 W. Cowper tr. Homer Iliad in Iliad & Odyssey I. iv. 478 Their glory then, match never more with ours.
1820 P. B. Shelley To Skylark in Prometheus Unbound 204 Chorus Hymenæal, Or triumphal chaunt, Matched with thine would be all But an empty vaunt.
1867 W. D. Howells Ital. Journeys iii. 29 I saw the custodian had another relic..which he was not ashamed to match with the manuscript in my interest.
†b. transitive. To compare in respect of similarity with; to examine the likeness of. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > comparison > compare [verb (transitive)]
evenOE
comparisonc1374
measurea1382
remenec1390
compare1509
confer?1531
to lay togethera1568
lay1577
paragona1586
paragonize1589
set1589
sympathize1600
confront1604
to name on (also in) the same day1609
collate1612
to lay down by1614
sampler1628
to set together1628
matcha1649
run1650
vie1685
to put together1690
a1649 W. Drummond Hist. James V in Wks. (1711) 103 By matching the Faces of one of those Strangers with a Portrait she had of King James.
9.
a. transitive. To find an equal to; to produce an appropriate rival or competitor for.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > make equal [verb (transitive)] > find or produce an equal to
match1596
cope1600
parallel1609
parallelize1669
1596 J. Norden Progr. Pietie f. 50v Some one of these his subtil sectes in showe, meeteth, & as it were, matcheth euery godly endeuour and sincere course that the children of God doe practise.
1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. Introd. 56 Excellent wines, and sugars which cannot be matched.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 123 The body of the Pillar is of one entire piece of Garnet, so high, that the world cannot match it.
1751 T. Smollett Peregrine Pickle II. l. 101 The very turnkey was confounded and overawed by the boldness of his behaviour, which he had never seen matched by any inhabitant of that place.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1773 I. 408 Johnson: I can match this nonsense.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Gardener's Daughter in Poems (new ed.) II. 20 Go and see The Gardener's daughter: trust me, after that, You scarce can fail to match his masterpiece.
1886 C. F. Woolson East Angels i. 15 To match it [sc. the climate] one must seek the Madeira Islands or Algiers.
1923 National Geographic Mag. Apr. 365/1 They could not be matched in a tug of war, for pulling against one another.
1957 Economist 7 Sept. 831 (advt.) The performance of modern aircraft must be matched by the radio, radar and Doppler navigational aids.
1993 Motocross Apr. 146/3 It's not the newest four-stroke motor made, but none of the Johnny-come-latelys have been able to match its awesome combination of power, reliability, [etc.].
b. transitive. To provide with a match; to find, select, or obtain a fitting complement or partner for (a colour, garment, pattern, etc.); to pair with or to a suitable addition or counterpart. Also with up. Also (occasionally) used intransitively.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > agree, harmonize, or be congruous with [verb (transitive)] > supply with suitable addition or counterpart
matcha1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. ii. 111 I could match this beginning with an old tale. View more context for this quotation
1720 J. Swift Proposal Use Irish Manuf. 6 There may be room enough to employ their Wit and Fancy in chusing and matching of Patterns and Colours.
1758 S. Johnson Idler 29 July 129 Every maid..matched her gown at Mr. Drugget's.
1770 S. Foote Lame Lover i. 20 [I] promised to..match a coach-horse for Brigadier Whip.
1861 G. J. Whyte-Melville Good for Nothing I. xi. 132 Can you match me this piece of yellow silk?
1881 J. Hawthorne Fortune's Fool (1883) i. xxxiv As if it were a question of matching knitting-yarns.
1905 H. G. Wells Kipps i. ii. 42 Then came a blessed interval when Kipps was sent abroad ‘matching’. This consisted chiefly in supplying unexpected defects in buttons, ribbon, lining and so forth in the dressmaking department.
1951 J. M. Fraser Psychol. ii. xi. 120 We are confronted then with two variables, the job and the individual... Our task is to match up one with the other.
1976 Ld. Home Way Wind Blows iii. 57 Elizabeth..never forgot a face and could always match it to the name.
1990 Managem. Computing Nov. 84 (advt.) We match hardware that performs with software that delivers.
†c. transitive. To compare so as to select one suitable to. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1718 A. Pope Corr. (1956) 1 Sept. I. 495 John was now matching several kinds of poppies and field-flowers to her Complexion, to make her a Present of Knots for the day.
d. transitive. Woodworking. To provide (a board) with a tongue and a groove on opposite edges. Cf. matched adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > constructing or working with wood > build or construct with wood [verb (transitive)] > prepare, dress, or square timber
framec1330
square1412
postc1520
timber out1628
slab1703
side1754
to bring forward1823
match1833
underhew1847
to run up1863
1833 [implied in: J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. §297 Five-eighth-inch deal matched (the edge of one board grooved, and the adjoining board tongued..) and beaded boarding. (at matched adj. 2)].
1845 Post Office London Directory 1971 (advt.) Patent machinery for planing, matching, and grooving boards, &c.
a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. II. 1217 Joiner's-plane, a bench-plane for facing and matching boards.
e. transitive. To offer or put up an equal amount of money to (a bid, stake, etc.).
ΚΠ
1920 Polit. Sci. Q. 35 527 States, in order to obtain federal funds for teachers' salaries..were compelled to take advantage of (and match equally) the minimum sums appropriated for teacher training.
1954 R. Dahl Someone like You 14 It's a no-bet anyway, because you can't match the stake.
1993 Westcoast Logger Feb. 9/3 A person who goes out, cruises an area, does the mapwork..gets the opportunity to match the highest bid.
f. transitive. Electronics. To equalize (two coupled impedances) so as to bring about the maximum transfer of power from one to the other; to make (a device) equal in effective impedance to.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic phenomena > electronic circuit > [verb (transitive)] > connect with mutual dependence
couple1893
match1929
1929 E. Mallett Telegr. & Telephony vii. 162 Where the impedances cannot be matched transformers may be introduced to give the same effect.
1931 Proc. IRE 19 725 At high frequencies a transformer consisting of primary, secondary and mutual inductances cannot be constructed to match a generator effectively to a resistive load.
1959 R. L. Shrader Electronic Communication xiii. 371 The requirement is to match a 4-ohm speaker to a 4,000-ohm power tube.
1982 Giant Bk. Electronics Projects vii. 309 A loop can be a very efficient radiator if it is properly matched to the transmitter.
†10. transitive. To find a match (in number) for. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 73 Heere comes another of the Tribe, a third cannot bee matcht, vnlesse the deuill himselfe turne Iewe. View more context for this quotation
11. transitive. U.S. To toss or flip (coins) as a game of chance. Also intransitive.
ΚΠ
1890 Cent. Dict. at Match To match coins in gaming.
1913 Dial. Notes 4 11 He was always lucky enough to win in matching pennies.
1938 Amer. Math. Monthly 45 323 One man has m coins and another has n. They match coins until one player has won all the coins. Find the average number of tosses required to end the game.
1989 G. Vanderhaeghe Homesick xvii. 226 Get-togethers remained cozy and unchanging, as unchanging as..the time-honoured ritual of matching for the coffee bill.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

matchv.2

Brit. /matʃ/, U.S. /mætʃ/
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: match n.2
Etymology: < match n.2 Compare French mécher to fumigate by burning sulphur matches (1743) < mèche match n.2
Now rare.
transitive. To fumigate (casks or alcoholic liquor) by burning sulphur matches. See match n.2 2b.In later use chiefly Cider-making.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of alcoholic drink > [verb (transitive)] > fumigate casks
match1669
stum1787
1669 C. Merret Some Observ. conc. ordering Wines in W. Charleton Two Disc. 221 Stum is nothing else but pure wine kept from fretting by often racking and matching it in clean Vessels.
1864 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 25 i. 90 Most of the cider that is ‘matched’ in this way has a peculiar taste.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1OEn.2a1398adj.1483v.1a1393v.21669
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