Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (3)
1.
a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified;
2.
a wardress in a prison;
3.
a woman in charge of nursing in a medical institution;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Matron \Ma"tron\, n. [F. matrone, L. matrona, fr. mater mother.
See Mother.]
1. A wife or a widow, especially, one who has borne children;
a woman of staid or motherly manners.
[1913 Webster]
Your wives, your daughters,
Your matrons, and your maids. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
Grave from her cradle, insomuch that she was a
matron before she was a mother. --Fuller.
[1913 Webster]
2. A housekeeper; esp., a woman who manages the domestic
economy of a public instution; a head nurse in a hospital;
as, the matron of a school or hospital.
[1913 Webster]
Jury of matrons (Law), a jury of experienced women called
to determine the question of pregnancy when set up in bar
of execution, and for other cognate purposes.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
matron
n 1: a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is
staid and dignified
2: a wardress in a prison
3: a woman in charge of nursing in a medical institution