matachin1
/matəˈʃiːn/ /ˈmatətʃɪn/Now historical
noun
A 16th-cent. sword dance related to the morris dance, performed by dancers in extravagant costume and representing a fight or duel.
Origin
Late 16th century. From Middle French, French †matachin kind of dance, kind of comic dancer and its etymon Italian mattaccino kind of dance, kind of comic dancer, buffoon from matto buffoon + -accino, pejorative diminutive suffix. Some 19th- and 20th-cent. examples represent secondary borrowings.
matachin2
/matəˈʃiːn/ /matəˈtʃiːn/(also matachina, matachine)
noun
1Chiefly in Central America and the south-western United States: a person or character who takes part in a ritual dance based on the history of Montezuma II. Chiefly in plural.
2Frequently in plural, with singular concord. The ritual dance performed by matachin dancers.
- The dance has Spanish, Moorish, Aztec, and Pueblo elements..
Origin
Mid 19th century. From American Spanish matachín (plural matachines) dancer in the ritual dance described below, specifically use of Spanish matachín. The word probably entered English in the plural form.
- astounding
- astoundingly
- astraddle
- Astraea
- astragal
- astragalus
- astragate
- a straight face
- a straight fight
- astrakhan
- astral
- astral plane
- astral projection
- astrantia
- a straw in the wind
- astray
- astride
- astringency
- astringent
- astringently
- astro-
- astro-archaeologist
- astro-archaeology
- astrobiological
- astrobiologist