Definition: mattress; reserve, cushion

Je viens d'acheter un nouveau matelas - I just bought a new mattress.

Il nous faut un petit matelas de sécurité - We need a little cushion (of money to fall back on).

Related: un matelas de billets (informal) - wad of money; Il a un joli petit matelas (inf) - He has a tidy sum put away; matelasser - to pad, upholster, quilt, line; un matelassier - mattress maker; la matelassure - padding, quilting, lining

(click the little graphic below to hear the Mot du jour pronounced)

Pronunciation: [ma t(eu) la]