mess

mess
{{11}}mess (n.) c.1300, "food for one meal, pottage," from O.Fr. mes "portion of food, course at dinner," from L.L. missus "course at dinner," lit. "a placing, a putting (on a table, etc.)," from pp. of mittere "to put, place," in classical Latin "to send, let go" (see MISSION (Cf. mission)).
Meaning "communal eating place" (especially a military one) is first attested 1530s, from earlier sense of "company of persons eating together" (early 15c.), originally a group of four. Sense of "mixed food," especially for animals, (1738) led to contemptuous use for "jumble, mixed mass" (1828) and figurative sense of "state of confusion" (1834), as well as "condition of untidiness" (1851). General use for "a quantity" of anything is attested by 1830. Meaning "excrement" (of animals) is from 1903.
{{12}}mess (v.) late 14c., "serve up in portions," from MESS (Cf. mess) (n.). Meaning "take one's meals" is from 1701; that of "make a mess" is from 1853. Related: Messed; messing. To mess with "interfere, get involved" is from 1903; mess up "make a mistake, get in trouble" is from 1933 (earlier" make a mess of," 1909), both originally American English colloquial.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • mess — mess …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • mess — [ mɛs ] n. m. • 1831 n. f.; mot angl., du fr. mes, forme a. de mets ♦ Lieu où se réunissent les officiers ou les sous officiers d une même unité, pour prendre leur repas en commun. ⇒ cantine, popote. « Ici, on sable le champagne au mess des sous… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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  • mess — [mes] n. [ME messe < OFr mes < L missus, a course (at a meal), orig. pp. of mittere, to send, put: see MISSION] 1. a portion or quantity of food for a meal or dish 2. a portion of soft or semiliquid food, as porridge 3. unappetizing food;… …   English World dictionary

  • Mess — war ein österreichisches Musikduo der 1980er Jahre. Es bestand aus Elisabeth Engstler und Michael Scheickl (unter dem Künstlernamen Fritz), die auch verheiratet waren. Chartplatzierungen Erklärung der Daten Singles Sonntag AT: 1[1] – 15. April… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • mess — mess; mess·i·ly; mess·i·ness; mess·man; mess·tin; ker·mess; …   English syllables

  • Mess — (m[e^]s), 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.] 1. A quantity of food set on a table at one time; provision of food for a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 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. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mess — Mess, v. t. 1. To supply with a mess. [1913 Webster] 2. 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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