Chapter Mesogaster to Meta- of M by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Honey mesquite

. See Algaroba (b). — Screw-pod mesquite, a smaller tree having spiral pods used as fodder and sometimes as food by the Indians. — Mesquite grass, a rich native grass in Western Texas (Bouteloua oligostachya, and other species); — so called from its growing in company with the mesquite tree; — called also muskit grass, grama grass.

Mess
(Mess) n. Mass; church service. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mess
(Mess) n. [OE. mes, OF. mets, LL. missum, p. p. of mittere to put, place L. mittere to send. See Mission, and cf. Mass religious service.]

1. A quantity of food set on a table at one time; provision of food for a person or party for one meal; as, a mess of pottage; also, the food given to a beast at one time.

At their savory dinner set
Of herbs and other country messes.

Milton.

2. A number of persons who eat together, and for whom food is prepared in common; especially, persons in the military or naval service who eat at the same table; as, the wardroom mess. Shak.

3. A set of four; — from the old practice of dividing companies into sets of four at dinner. [Obs.] Latimer.

4. The milk given by a cow at one milking. [U.S.]

5. [Perh. corrupt. fr. OE. mesh for mash: cf. muss.] A disagreeable mixture or confusion of things; hence, a situation resulting from blundering or from misunderstanding; as, he made a mess of it. [Colloq.]

Mess
(Mess) v. i. [imp. & p. p. Messed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Messing.] To take meals with a mess; to belong to a mess; to eat (with others); as, I mess with the wardroom officers. Marryat.

Mess
(Mess), v. t. To supply with a mess.

Message
(Mes"sage) n. [F., fr. LL. missaticum, fr. L. mittere, missum, to send. See Mission, and cf. Messenger.]

1. Any notice, word, or communication, written or verbal, sent from one person to another.

Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee.

Judg. iii. 20.

2. Hence, specifically, an official communication, not made in person, but delivered by a messenger; as, the President's message.

Message shell. See Shell.

Message
(Mes"sage), v. t. To bear as a message. [Obs.]

Message
(Mes"sage), n. [OE., fr. OF. message, fr. LL. missaticus. See 1st Message.] A messenger. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Messager
(Mes"sa*ger) n. [OE.] A messenger. [Obs.]

Messenger
(Mes"sen*ger) n. [OE. messager, OF. messagier, F. messager. See Message.]

1. One who bears a message; the bearer of a verbal or written communication, notice, or invitation, from one person to another, or to a public body; specifically, an office servant who bears messages.

2. One who, or that which, foreshows, or foretells.

Yon gray lines
That fret the clouds are messengers of day.

Shak.