GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Mess , n. Mass; church service. [Obs.]
   Chaucer.
   
   1913 Webster
         
       

2.       
   Mess , n. [OE. mes, OF. mets, LL. missum, p. p. of mittere to put, place (e. g., on the table), L. mittere to send. See Mission, and cf. Mass religious service.]
   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.
   1913 Webster
   At their savory dinner set
   Of herbs and other country messes.
   Milton.
   
   1913 Webster
   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.
   
   1913 Webster
   A set of four; -- from the old practice of dividing companies into sets of four at dinner. [Obs.]
   Latimer.
   
   1913 Webster
   The milk given by a cow at one milking. [U.S.]
   1913 Webster
   [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.]
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3.       
   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.
   
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4.       
   Mess, v. t.
   To supply with a mess.
   1913 Webster
   To make a mess{5} of; to disorder or muddle; to muss; to jumble; to disturb; to mess up.
   Webster 1913 Suppl.
   It was n't right either to be messing another man's sleep.
   Scribner's Mag.
   
   Webster 1913 Suppl.