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• mace
  mace

  noun

  a clublike armor-breaking weapon of war, often with a flanged or spiked metal head, used chiefly in the Middle Ages.
• Mace
  Mace

  a nonlethal spray containing purified tear gas and chemical solvents that temporarily incapacitate a person mainly by causing eye and skin irritations: used especially as a means of subduing rioters.

mace

¹ American  

[meys] / meɪs /

noun

1. a clublike armor-breaking weapon of war, often with a flanged or spiked metal head, used chiefly in the Middle Ages.

2. a ceremonial staff carried before or by certain officials as a symbol of office.

3. macebearer.

4. Billiards. a light stick with a flat head, formerly used at times instead of a cue.

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mace ² American  

[meys] / meɪs /

noun

1. a spice ground from the layer between a nutmeg shell and its outer husk, resembling nutmeg in flavor.

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Mace ³ American  

[meys] / meɪs /

Trademark.

1. Also called Chemical Mace.  a nonlethal spray containing purified tear gas and chemical solvents that temporarily incapacitate a person mainly by causing eye and skin irritations: used especially as a means of subduing rioters.

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verb (used with object)

Maced, Macing

1. (sometimes lowercase) to attack with Mace spray.

mace ¹ British  

/ meɪs /

noun

1. a club, usually having a spiked metal head, used esp in the Middle Ages

2. a ceremonial staff of office carried by certain officials

3. See macebearer

4. an early form of billiard cue

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Mace ² British  

/ meɪs /

noun

1. a liquid causing tears and nausea, used as a spray for riot control, etc

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verb

1. (tr; sometimes not capital) to use Mace on

mace ³ British  

/ meɪs /

noun

1. a spice made from the dried aril round the nutmeg seed

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Etymology

Origin of mace¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French (compare French masse ) large mallet < Vulgar Latin *mattea; akin to Latin matteola kind of mallet; compare Sanskrit matya harrow

Origin of mace²

1350–1400; Middle English, back formation from macis (taken as plural) < Middle French < Latin maccis a spice

Origin of Mace³

1965–70; probably from mace ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “clublike weapon”)

Explanation

You might see the leader of a royal procession carrying a mace, or ceremonial staff. The word mace can also refer to two very different weapons: a long stick with spikes on the end or a chemical irritant that you spray in someone's eyes. Ouch! Ever see a film about medieval knights battling one another? The spiked weapon that some knights used was called a mace — and it could put quite a dent in your skull. Because we’re all much more civilized now, we don’t use iron maces anymore, but police officers and riot police do use a chemical spray called Mace, which has much the same effect. It was invented in 1968, just in time to deal with pesky student agitators and the like. Get that in your eyes and it’ll ruin your day.

Example Sentences

Mace urged Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, to "publicly reaffirm former Attorney General Pam Bondi's legal obligation to appear for her deposition".

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Republican congresswoman Nancy Mace said she was the only member of Congress to publicly call for the arrest of the former prince.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

“Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks,” Mace said on X. “This is not who we are.”

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026

Others run for executive offices, including governor, such as Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina.

From Salon • Dec. 29, 2025

Through Turner, Mace said that he had never tasted, never even heard of, goose liver pate, and from now on, he would eat nothing else.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

Related Words

• baton