Adjacent Words

Mace definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MACE, n. An ensign of authority borne before magistrates. Originally, the mace was a club or instrument of war, made of iron and much used by cavalry. It was in the shape of a coffee mill. Being no longer a weapon of war, its form is changed; it is made of silver or copper gilt, and ornamented with a crown, globe and cross.
A leaden mace,
A heavy iron mace.
MACE, n. [L. macis.] A spice; the second coat which covers the nutmeg, a thin and membranaceous substance of an oleaginous nature and yellowish color, being in flakes divided into many ramifications; it is extremely fragrant and aromatic.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (trademark) a liquid that temporarily disables a person; prepared as an aerosol and sprayed in the face, it irritates the eyes and causes dizziness and immobilization [syn: Mace, Chemical Mace]
2: an official who carries a mace of office [syn: macebearer, mace, macer]
3: spice made from the dried fleshy covering of the nutmeg seed
4: a ceremonial staff carried as a symbol of office or authority

Merriam Webster's

trademark — used for a temporarily disabling liquid usually used as a spray

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old French mascie, macis, from Medieval Latin macis Date: 13th century an aromatic spice consisting of the dried external fibrous covering of a nutmeg II. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *mattia; akin to Latin mateola mallet Date: 14th century 1. a. a heavy often spiked staff or club used especially in the Middle Ages for breaking armor b. a club used as a weapon 2. a. an ornamental staff borne as a symbol of authority before a public official or a legislative body b. one who carries a mace III. transitive verb (maced; macing) Date: 1968 to attack with the liquid Mace

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. 1 a staff of office, esp. the symbol of the Speaker's authority in the House of Commons. 2 hist. a heavy club usu. having a metal head and spikes. 3 a stick used in the game of bagatelle. 4 = mace-bearer. Phrases and idioms: mace-bearer an official who carries a mace on ceremonial occasions. Etymology: ME f. OF mace, masse f. Rmc mattea (unrecorded) club 2. n. the dried outer covering of the nutmeg, used as a spice. Etymology: ME macis (taken as pl.) f. OF macis f. L macir a red spicy bark

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mace Mace, n. [Jav. & Malay. m[=a]s, fr. Skr. m[=a]sha a bean.] A money of account in China equal to one tenth of a tael; also, a weight of 57.98 grains. --S. W. Williams.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mace Mace, n. [F. macis, L. macis, macir, Gr. ?; cf. Skr. makaranda the nectar or honey of a flower, a fragrant mango.] (Bot.) A kind of spice; the aril which partly covers nutmegs. See Nutmeg. Note: Red mace is the aril of Myristica tingens, and white mace that of M. Otoba, -- East Indian trees of the same genus with the nutmeg tree.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Mace Mace, n. [OF. mace, F. masse, from (assumed) L. matea, of which the dim. mateola a kind of mallet or beetle, is found.] 1. A heavy staff or club of metal; a spiked club; -- used as weapon in war before the general use of firearms, especially in the Middle Ages, for breaking metal armor. --Chaucer. Death with his mace petrific . . . smote. --Milton. 2. Hence: A staff borne by, or carried before, a magistrate as an ensign of his authority. ``Swayed the royal mace.'' --Wordsworth. 3. An officer who carries a mace as an emblem of authority. --Macaulay. 4. A knobbed mallet used by curriers in dressing leather to make it supple. 5. (Billiards) A rod for playing billiards, having one end suited to resting on the table and pushed with one hand. Mace bearer, an officer who carries a mace before person in authority.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(maces) 1. A mace is an ornamental stick carried by an official or placed somewhere as a symbol of authority. N-COUNT 2. Mace is a substance that causes tears and sickness, and that is used in sprays as a defence against rioters or attackers. (TRADEMARK)

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Metal club. 2. Truncheon, staff, bâton.

Moby Thesaurus

armory, badge, badge of office, badges, bastinado, bat, baton, battering ram, billy, billy club, blackjack, blazonry, bludgeon, brassard, button, caduceus, cane, cap and gown, chain, chain of office, cheat, class ring, club, cockade, collar, con man, crook, crosier, cross, cross-staff, cudgel, decoration, diddler, dress, eagle, emblems, ensigns, fasces, ferule, figurehead, fleur-de-lis, flimflammer, gavel, gyp, hammer and sickle, heraldry, insignia, knobkerrie, lapel pin, life preserver, livery, mantle, markings, medal, morning star, mortarboard, mountebank, nightstick, old school tie, paddle, pin, portfolio, quarterstaff, ram, regalia, ring, rod, rod of office, rose, sandbag, scepter, school ring, shamrock, sharpie, shillelagh, sigillography, skull and crossbones, sphragistics, spontoon, staff, stave, stick, swastika, tartan, thistle, tie, truncheon, uniform, verge, wand, wand of office, war club