matting

Etymology

noun

1. Mats, a collection of ground coverings.
   His departure oppressed me with melancholy, and, re-entering the dwelling, I threw myself almost in despair upon the matting of the floor. 1846, Herman Melville, Typee
   The doorways had a transverse mat well with a 1½in thick floor mat. In service it was discovered that the matting absorbed moisture which eventually resulted in corrosion of the steel. 1979 August, Graham Burtenshaw, Michael S. Welch, “O.V.S. Bulleid's SR loco-hauled coaches - 1”, in Railway World, page 398
2. Coarse fabric, of the kind used to make mats.
   ... the sails are of Matting and are made narrow at the head and Square at the foot,... Besides Cloth they [Tahitians] make several different sorts of matting, both better and finer than any we have in Europe; the stuff they make it on is the Produce of the Palm tree. c. 1771, James Cook, First Voyage Round the World
3. (art, photography) A dull surface, often used for surrounding pictures.

verb

1. present participle and gerund of mat