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”)

Example Sentences

Evidence includes fishing-net weights; tools made of basalt, a stone that does not naturally occur along this part of the eastern Mediterranean coast; and a ceremonial mace head.

From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2024

Beat until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl, then beat in another ½ cup of the remaining flour plus the nutmeg, mace or cinnamon.

From Washington Times • Dec. 12, 2023

Nutmeg comes from grinding the inner seed kernels; its sister spice, mace, comes from grinding the tissue that envelopes the seeds.

From Salon • Dec. 11, 2023

In the United States, we use static security: lockdowns, body armor, mace.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2023

The Imp had moved most of the gold cloaks to the city walls, mid the white knights of the Kingsguard had duties mace important than dogging her heels.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• baton