matins

UK: /ˈmætɪnz/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

matins, mattins / ˈmætɪnz/ noun (functioning as singular or plural)

1. the first of the seven canonical hours of prayer, originally observed at night but now often recited with lauds at daybreak
2. the service of morning prayer in the Church of England
3. a morning song, esp of birds

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French, ultimately from Latin mātūtīnus of the morning, from Mātūta goddess of dawn

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mat•in  (mat′n), n. 

1. Religion (often cap.) matins. Also,[esp. Brit.,] mattins. (usually used with a sing. v.)[Eccles.]
   • the first of the seven canonical hours.
   • the service for it, properly beginning at midnight, but sometimes beginning at daybreak.
   • Also called Morning Prayer. the service of public prayer, said in the morning, in the Anglican Church.
2. [Archaic.] aubade.

adj. 

3. Also, mat′in•al. pertaining to the morning or to matins.

• Latin mātūtīnus matutinal
• Old French matin
• Middle English matyn (plural matines) 1200–50