Etymology Map
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Mess

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an untidy state; a place where soldiers eat

Where does the word "mess" come from? It comes from Latin missus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
missus
Latin · ancient
"course of a meal"
past participle of 'mittere', to send: food sent to the table
2
Stage 2 of 3
mes
Old French · medieval
"portion of food"
a dish served
3
Stage 3 of 3
mess
English · 1300s
"portion of food"
military 'mess' halls keep this sense; 'a mess' as disorder dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Mess’s story begins in Latin: missus meant “course of a meal.” Past participle of 'mittere', to send: food sent to the table. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as mes. A dish served. It reached English by 1300s as mess. Military 'mess' halls keep this sense; 'a mess' as disorder dates from the 1800s. Today, mess means an untidy state; a place where soldiers eat.