cess

¹

[ses]

noun

1. British.,  a tax, assessment, or lien.

2. (in Scotland) a land tax.

3. (in Ireland) a military assessment.

4. (in India) an import or sales tax on a commodity.

verb (used with object)

1. British.,  to tax; assess.

cess

²

[ses]

noun

Irish English Informal.

1. luck (usually used in the expressionbad cess to ).

   Bad cess to them!

cess

¹

/ sɛs /

noun

1. any of several special taxes, such as a land tax in Scotland

2. 1. the obligation to provide the soldiers and household of the lord deputy with supplies at fixed prices

   2. any military exaction

verb

1. (tr) to tax or assess for taxation

2. (formerly in Ireland) to impose (soldiers) upon a population, to be supported by them

cess

²

/ sɛs /

noun

1. an Irish slang word for luck

   bad cess to you!

cess

³

/ sɛs /

noun

1. short for cesspool

Word History and Origins

Origin of cess¹

1400–50; late Middle English; aphetic variant of obsolete assess assessment, noun use of assess (v.)

Origin of cess²

First recorded in 1855–60; perhaps aphetic variant of success

Word History and Origins

Origin of cess¹

C16: short for _assessment

Origin of cess²

C19: probably from _cess ¹ (sense 2)