[This revised post was sent as a quotation of an earlier post. I have removed the misleading formatting as a quotation - Richard, moderator]
I though that Spain Matare = to kill came from IE Mat- = kinf of wood so first sens Matare = to kill with stick wood ?
Latin Materia = wood > Portugais Moita = Bush and Mata/Matagal = Forest . Spain Mata/Mattoral = Bush > French Mater = To look ? > To Spy > To hide behind the bush ?
and may be (but i'm not sure) : Stick/Pickaxe
Old English Mættoc < English Mattock
Lituanien Matikkas. Russe Motyka
Latin Mateola Maillet and Vulgare Latin Mattea Sceptre > Olf French and English Mace > French Masse/Massue
look here
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=Mace&searchmode=none
See Celtic Matara/Mat(t)aris = A kind of wood spear > Latin Mattiarius = Roman soldier with Spear
And may be from North Arab
Matrak = Big club/Wood billet > Frenche Matraquer = TO KNOCK DOWN
Pat