mace
mace Lexical Profile
mace Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A chemical tear gas or pepper spray used for self-defense to temporarily blind or incapacitate an attacker.
"The security guard carried a canister of mace on his belt while patrolling the empty parking lot."
A heavy, often spiked club used as a weapon in the Middle Ages, or a similar highly ornamented staff carried by an official as a symbol of authority.
"The mayor entered the council chambers preceded by an official carrying the ceremonial mace."
A crimson spice made from the dried aril (seed covering) of the nutmeg, used to flavor baked goods and savory dishes.
"She added a pinch of ground mace to the pumpkin pie filling for a warmer, slightly sharper flavor."
• verb
To spray someone with a chemical irritant, such as pepper spray or tear gas, in order to temporarily incapacitate them.
"The store owner was forced to mace the aggressive intruder before calling the police."
Word Nuance & Usage
The noun relies entirely on context, as it can refer to a culinary spice derived from nutmeg, a medieval weapon, a ceremonial staff, or a brand of self-defense spray (often capitalized as Mace).
• Rhymes for mace
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The word has two distinct origins. The weapon and staff derive from Old French 'mace', from Vulgar Latin '*mattea' (club). The spice derives independently from Latin 'macir' (via Greek 'makir'), originally referring to a fragrant bark.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.