mattrass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Rare / ObsoleteArchaic, Historical, Dialectal
Quick answer
What does “mattrass” mean?
An archaic or dialectal spelling of 'mattress', meaning a fabric case filled with soft, firm, or springy material, used for sleeping on.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic or dialectal spelling of 'mattress', meaning a fabric case filled with soft, firm, or springy material, used for sleeping on.
Historically, a large cushion or pad for a bed, often stuffed with hair, straw, or similar materials. The spelling 'mattrass' is now obsolete in standard English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'mattrass' is an obsolete form in both varieties. Modern standard British and American English exclusively use 'mattress'. No contemporary regional preference for 'mattrass' exists.
Connotations
If encountered, it connotes historical context, antiquity, or possibly a typographical error.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in contemporary corpora for both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “mattrass” in a Sentence
[Verb] the mattrass: stuff, mend, beat, turn[Adjective] mattrass: old, hard, feather, woolenVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or philological studies discussing obsolete spellings.
Everyday
Not used; would be corrected to 'mattress'.
Technical
Not used in modern manufacturing or design.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mattrass”
- Using 'mattrass' in modern writing is a mistake. The correct spelling is 'mattress'.
- Pronouncing the final '-ss' as /s/ instead of the standard /s/ for 'mattress' is not required, as the word is obsolete.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'mattrass' is an obsolete historical spelling. The correct modern spelling in all standard varieties of English is 'mattress'.
You might find it in historical texts, wills, inventories, or novels set in the past (e.g., 18th or early 19th century). It is not used in contemporary writing.
No. Learners should only learn and use the modern spelling 'mattress'. Knowledge of 'mattrass' is only for historical interest or advanced philological study.
No, historical evidence suggests it was pronounced the same as the modern 'mattress' (/ˈmætrəs/). The spelling variation does not indicate a phonetic difference.
An archaic or dialectal spelling of 'mattress', meaning a fabric case filled with soft, firm, or springy material, used for sleeping on.
Mattrass is usually archaic, historical, dialectal in register.
Mattrass: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmætrəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmætrəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MattRASS' is an old, GRASSY spelling that has been replaced by the modern 'mattress'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS SOFT SUPPORT (obsolete container).
Practice
Quiz
What is the status of the spelling 'mattrass' in contemporary English?