mace

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈmās 

: 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

ˈmās 

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

Example Sentences

Verb

She maced the man who attacked her.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Carter said police used mace to break up the fight, and one person was arrested. —Dezimey Kum, USA TODAY, 21 July 2022

At some point earlier, the households also had another argument, during which Ford’s sister sprayed mace toward Rodger-Knox and the witnesses, Williams said. —Olivia Olander, chicagotribune.com, 11 Feb. 2022

The charges against Gimbel of recklessly endangering another person and one of the counts of unlawfully using mace relate to Nelson’s wife, according to the indictment. —oregonlive, 2 Dec. 2021

More officers were called in and had to use mace and smoke to disperse the crowds. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2021

Members of far-right and left-wing groups spray bear mace at each other during clashes between the politically opposed sides on Sunday in Portland, Ore. —NBC News, 23 Aug. 2021

The fighting moved to a nearby roadway, with someone spraying bear mace in the crowd, The Oregonian reports. —Catherine Garcia, The Week, 22 Aug. 2021

Some counterprotesters sprayed mace, the Times said. —Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2021

Some counterprotesters sprayed mace, the Times said. —Hannah Knowles, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Aug. 2021

Verb

One such incident saw anti-fascists mace the driver of a pickup truck bearing Trump and Confederate flags who stepped out of his vehicle to confront them. —Tim Gruver | The Center Square, Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2021

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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

Kids Definition

mace

1 of 2 noun

ˈmās 

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

ˈmās 

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