ˌmad.əməˈtä noun
( -s )
Etymology: Portuguese matamatá, from Tupi
1. : a pleurodiran turtle ( Chelus fimbriata ) of Guiana and the northern part of Brazil that reaches a length of three feet, has a rough shell and a long neck with fleshy fimbriae on the neck and on the head, and produces eggs that yield an edible oil
2. : any of several So. American trees of the genus Eschweilera of the family Lecythidaceae ; especially : a tree yielding a heavy hard compact wood used for pilings and foundation construction