machete
- n a large heavy knife used in Central and South America as a weapon or for cutting vegetation
machiavelli
- n a statesman of Florence who advocated a strong central government (1469-1527)
machiavellianism
- n the political doctrine of Machiavelli: any means (however unscrupulous) can be used by a ruler in order to create and maintain his autocratic government
machicolation
- n a projecting parapet supported by corbels on a medieval castle; has openings through which stones or boiling water could be dropped on an enemy
machilid
- n wingless insect living in dark moist places as under dead tree trunks; they make erratic leaps when disturbed