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massa

1 American  
[mas-uh] / ˈmæs ə /
Also mars,

noun

Southern U.S.

  1. (used in representation of Southern Black speech, especially in the era of slavery) master.

Massa 2 American  
[mahs-sah] / ˈmɑs sɑ /

noun

  1. a city in W Italy, near the Ligurian Sea: important marble industry.

Massa British  
/ ˈmassa /

noun

  1. a town in W Italy, in NW Tuscany. Pop: 66 769 (2001)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of massa

First recorded in 1570–80 as mas; marse was first recorded in 1765–75; shortening and alteration of master ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nunc malesuada, felis in scelerisque facilisis, ex risus luctus dolor, aliquet posuere enim nunc et massa.

From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015

Nunc id massa ut nunc efficitur consectetur in sit amet sapien.

From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015

Sed efficitur convallis velit, sit amet ultricies massa finibus at.

From Forbes • Apr. 23, 2015

The two thalami touch in the center in most brains as the massa intermedia, which is surrounded by the third ventricle.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

“My massa thought so, ma’am,” she said quietly.

From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.