Mess (?), n.
Mass; church service. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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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.]
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.]
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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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Mess, v. t.
To supply with a mess.
© Webster 1913
Mess, v. t.
To make a mess of; to disorder or muddle; to muss; to jumble; to disturb.
It was n't right either to be messing another man's sleep.
Scribner's Mag.
© Webster 1913