mace
1[ meys ]
/ meɪs /
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noun
a clublike armor-breaking weapon of war, often with a flanged or spiked metal head, used chiefly in the Middle Ages.
a ceremonial staff carried before or by certain officials as a symbol of office.
Billiards. a light stick with a flat head, formerly used at times instead of a cue.
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Origin of mace
11250–1300; Middle English <Old French (compare French masse) large mallet <Vulgar Latin *mattea; akin to Latin matteola kind of mallet; compare Sanskrit matya harrow
Other definitions for mace (2 of 3)
mace2
[ meys ]
/ meɪs /
noun
a spice ground from the layer between a nutmeg shell and its outer husk, resembling nutmeg in flavor.
Origin of mace
21350–1400; Middle English, back formation from macis (taken as plural) <Middle French <Latin maccis a spice
Other definitions for mace (3 of 3)
Mace
[ meys ]
/ meɪs /
Trademark.
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.
(sometimes lowercase) to attack with Mace spray.
Origin of Mace
1965–70; probably from mace1 (in the sense “clublike weapon”)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for mace (1 of 3)
mace1
/ (meɪs) /
noun
a club, usually having a spiked metal head, used esp in the Middle Ages
a ceremonial staff of office carried by certain officials
See macebearer
an early form of billiard cue
Word Origin for mace
C13: from Old French, probably from Vulgar Latin mattea (unattested); apparently related to Latin mateola mallet
British Dictionary definitions for mace (2 of 3)
mace2
/ (meɪs) /
noun
a spice made from the dried aril round the nutmeg seed
Word Origin for mace
C14: formed as a singular from Old French macis (wrongly assumed to be plural), from Latin macir an oriental spice
British Dictionary definitions for mace (3 of 3)
Mace
/ (meɪs) US /
noun
trademark a liquid causing tears and nausea, used as a spray for riot control, etc
verb
(tr; sometimes not capital) to use Mace on
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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