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 spice made from the dried aril round the nutmeg seed

mace

³

/ 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

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

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

Origin of mace²

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

Example Sentences

Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who represents South Carolina in the House of Representatives, tweeted that her office is "diligently gathering all relevant information to keep our constituents informed regarding the recent escape of primates".

From BBC

Mace deflected by claiming Stephanopolous was shaming her as a survivor.

From Salon

But before others could chime in, Mace made her position clear — “I will say Kamala’s name any way that I want to.”

From Salon

"You are being dishonest or lying," Mace said.

From BBC

At issue in the South Carolina case was a congressional district in the Charleston area held by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• baton