Mat \Mat\, n. [AS. matt, meatt, fr. L. matta a mat made of
   rushes.]
   1. A thick flat fabric of sedge, rushes, flags, husks, straw,
      hemp, or similar material, placed on the floor and used
      for wiping and cleaning shoes at the door, for covering
      the floor of a hall or room to protect its surface, and
      for other purposes.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

   2. Any similar flat object made of fabric or other material,
      such as rubber or plastic, placed flat on a surface for
      various uses, as for covering plant houses, putting
      beneath dishes or lamps on a table, securing rigging from
      friction, and the like.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

   3. Anything growing thickly, or closely interwoven, so as to
      resemble a mat in form or texture; as, a mat of weeds; a
      mat of hair.
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   4. An ornamental border made of paper, pasterboard, metal,
      etc., put under the glass which covers a framed picture;
      as, the mat of a daguerreotype.
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   Mat grass. (Bot.)
      (a) A low, tufted, European grass (Nardus stricta).
      (b) Same as Matweed.

   Mat rush (Bot.), a kind of rush (Scirpus lacustris) used
      in England for making mats.
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Tule \Tu"le\, n. [Mex.] (Bot.)
   A large bulrush (Scirpus lacustris, and Scirpus Tatora)
   growing abundantly on overflowed land in California and
   elsewhere.
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Bulrush \Bul"rush`\ (b[.u]l"r[u^]sh`), n. [OE. bulrysche,
   bolroysche; of uncertain origin, perh. fr. bole stem + rush.]
   (Bot.)
   A kind of large rush, growing in wet land or in water.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: The name bulrush is applied in England especially to
         the cat-tail (Typha latifolia and Typha
         angustifolia) and to the lake club-rush (Scirpus
         lacustris); in America, to the Juncus effusus, and
         also to species of Scirpus or club-rush.
         [1913 Webster]