from
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
MATERIAL MEN. This name is given to persons who furnish materials for the
purpose of constructing or erecting ships, houses, and other buildings.
2. By the common law material men have a lien on a foreign ship for
supplies of materials furnished for such ship, which may be recovered in the
admiralty. 9 Wheat. 409. But they have no lien for furnishing materials for
repairs of domestic ships. Wheat. 438.
3. In several of the states, laws have been enacted giving material men
a lien on houses and other buildings when they have furnished materials for
constructing the same.