Word Direct Answers

What does "mess" mean?

Mess: 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.

Additional senses

  1. 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.
  2. 3.A set of four; -- from the old practice of dividing companies into sets of four at dinner. [Obs.] Latimer.
  3. 4.The milk given by a cow at one milking. [U.S.]
  4. 5.Etym: [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.]
  5. 6.To take meals with a mess; to belong to a mess; to eat (with others); as, I mess with the wardroom officers. Marryat.
  6. 7.To supply with a mess.

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