To lose the number of one’s mess, verb. phr. (military and
nautical).—To die. For synonyms see Hop the twig.
1834. Marryat, Peter Simple, ch. xxxiii. ‘I can’t say, Mr. Simple,’
said Mr. Chucks to me in an under tone, ‘that I think well of this
expedition; and I have an idea that some of us will lose the number
of our mess.’
1881. T. F. Keane, Six Months in Meccah, p. 60. Another followed,
fetching me one on the skull, that would have ‘settled the number
of my mess’ but for the thickness of my too attractive head-dress.
Messel, subs. (old).—A partner; an associate.
1605. London Prodigal, ii. 1. I defy thee; press scoundrells, and
thy messels.
Mess-john, subs. (old).—A clergyman: in contempt. [Mass-john]. See
John, sense 2.
1772. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satyrical (1788), 169. The next a
mess john of rank methodist taint. Who thought like a sinner, but
looked like a saint.
1785. Poems in the Buchan Dialect, ii. 42. This breeds ill wills,
ye ken fu’ aft, In the black coat, Till poor mass-john and the
priest-craft Goes ti’ the pot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Mess-john, a Scotch Presbyterian
teacher or parson.
c. 1786. Burns, To a Tailor. An’ syne mess-john, beyond expression,
Fell foul o’ me.
Mess-mate, subs. (old: now recognised).—See quot. 1785.
1772. G. A. Stevens, Songs Comic and Satyrical, ‘The Storm.’
Messmates, hear a brother sailor Sing the dangers of the sea.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Mess-mate, one who eats at the same
mess, companion, or camerade.
Mesting, subs. (American thieves’).—See quot.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Mesting. Dissolving; melting.
Met, subs. (American).—A member of the Metropolitan (or New York)
Base-Ball Club.