/man"teuh/ ; Sp. /mahn"tah/ , n. , pl. mantas /-teuhz/ ; Sp. /-tahs/ .
1. (in Spain and Spanish America) a cloak or wrap.
2. the type of blanket or cloth used on a horse or mule.
3. Mil. a movable shelter formerly used to protect besiegers, as when attacking a fortress.
4. Ichthyol. Also called manta ray, devil ray, devilfish . any of several tropical rays of the small family Mobulidae, esp. of the genus Manta, measuring from 2 to 24 ft. (0.6 to 7.3 m) across, including the pectoral fins. See illus. in preceding column.
[ 1690-1700; ]