mace

¹

[ meys ]

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.

mace

²

[ meys ]

noun

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

Mace

³

[ meys ]

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.

verb (used with object)

, Maced, Mac·ing.

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

Mace

¹

/ meɪs /

noun

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

verb

1. tr; sometimes not capital to use Mace on

mace

²

/ 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
   See macebearer
4. an early form of billiard cue

mace

³

/ meɪs /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

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”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of mace¹

C13: from Old French, probably from Vulgar Latin mattea (unattested); apparently related to Latin mateola mallet

Origin of mace²

C14: formed as a singular from Old French macis (wrongly assumed to be plural), from Latin macir an oriental spice

Example Sentences

They also brought with them semiautomatic weapons, pistols, mace, rods, armor, shields, and torches.

From Washington Post

It is smaller geographically, certainly, but that it actually has as many residents as so many congressional districts without a voting member of the chamber seems like an argument that runs contrary to what Mace intended.

From Washington Post

Tam Nguyen, president of Advance Beauty College, started 34 years ago by his parents, said he plans to also offer workshops on de-escalation, safe confrontation and the use of Mace.

From Washington Post

People who had never considered needing protection now carry mace and bear repellent.

From Washington Post

Mace is only be the second woman, Republican or Democrat, elected to serve a full congressional term in the state.

From Fortune

Some later claimed that a cop shook a can of mace, an uncalled for act of aggravation, one man said.

From The Daily Beast

Jaime was taught to fight with sword and lance and mace, and I was taught to smile and sing and please.

From The Daily Beast

In 1988, producer Mace Neufeld approached Costner about The Hunt for Red October.

From The Daily Beast

So Rey and Maupin sprayed the guards with their own Mace-type aerosol and took off running in a panic.

From The Daily Beast

Larson told Bundermann that they needed cover fire before they could make a run for it and try to bring Mace to the Aid Station.

From The Daily Beast

And whilst I was stretched out that-a-way, Mace come clost and give me her hand.

From Project Gutenberg

When she went to go into her stable, Mace slowed her down till the street cars was gone by.

From Project Gutenberg

The legend that may still be read upon the Corporation mace, of Elizabethan date, is earnest of this old-time amity.

From Project Gutenberg

The Whigs were reminded that those same soldiers had taken the mace from the table of the House of Commons.

From Project Gutenberg

Other votes were carried without a single division either in the Committee or when the mace was on the table.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• baton