mace

1 of 4

noun (1)

: an aromatic spice consisting of the dried external fibrous covering of a nutmeg

mace

2 of 4

noun (2)

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 (such as a magistrate) or a legislative body
b
: one who carries a mace

mace

3 of 4

verb

maced; macing

transitive verb

: to attack with the liquid Mace

Mace

4 of 4

trademark

used for a temporarily disabling liquid usually used as a spray

Examples of mace in a Sentence

Verb She maced the man who attacked her.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The cookies are flavored with cinnamon, mace, and molasses. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2024 The base of musk, magnolia, and mace (a delicate note reminiscent of nutmeg) add a compulsively sniffable layer of warmth. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2024 Weapons of any kind (no knives or mace/pepper spray of any size). Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024 Louisiana recently OK'd the use of mace and pepper spray in juvenile detention facilities. Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mace 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mace.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Old French mascie, macis, from Medieval Latin macis

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *mattia; akin to Latin mateola mallet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mace was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near mace

Cite this Entry

“Mace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mace. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

mace

1 of 2 noun
1
: a heavy spiked club used as a weapon in the Middle Ages
2
: an ornamental staff carried as a symbol of authority

mace

2 of 2 noun
: a spice made from the dried outer covering of the nutmeg
Etymology

Noun

Middle English mace "a heavy spiked club," from early French mace (same meaning); probably of Latin origin

Noun

Middle English mace "the spice mace," from early French mascie, macis (same meaning), from Latin macis "an East Indian spice"

Medical Definition

Mace

trademark
used for a temporarily disabling liquid that when sprayed in the face of a person causes tears, dizziness, immobilization, and sometimes nausea

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