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THE QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS...

MATTACHINE

WHAT IS THE MEANING of the

word 'Mattachine?"-Miss M. J., Virginia."

That letter could have been printed several issues ago, and letters similar to it could have been published in every edition of the Review since. Every newcomer wants to know what the word means.

Several months ago, the Board of Directors of the Mattachine Society set out to learn the exact, authoritative answer. Perhaps, they thought, the simple explanation that the "mattachinos" of medieval Italy and Southern Europe were court jesters, professional fools, teachers, prophets and soothsayers was a little too glib and glossed over.

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In the Italian language, the word "matte" is found-it means fool. The "chino" stem, a diminutive form, is obvious enough. That is a probable source of the word.

T

Within the organization, the word was selected back in the "foundation

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What Does It Mean?

days" before the open, democratic Society came into being. That was about five years ago.

The Mattachines (and the Anglicized pronunciation rhymed with "hat" and "chime" with accent on the latter) were the professional entertainers and prophets of the nobility, men of wisdom who dared to speak the truth in the face of stern consequences if their predictions were incorrect. They saw reality as something deeper than a surface coating.

The very obscurity of the word increased its appeal for the name of the new organization, the founders have said, largely because the name had no connection with any stereotyped-reference in the popular jargon.

If the source of the word was obscure, the correct pronunciation has been just as unclear.

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The "mat-ta-CHINE" mentioned above. with the first "a" short as in "cat" and the "i" long as in "chime”, seems to be preferred and most > widely used by those in the area where it was founded. A variety of other pronunciations are possiblethe second most common of which, perhaps, is "MAT-tuh-chun."

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Until someone with the facility for probing deeper into the origin of obscure words comes forward with a better, different or more complete answer, there it is. Many new words have been added to our language in such a manner as this. And as long as English remains fluid and alive, there'll be room for others.

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