Mace (?), n. [Jav. & Malay. mas, fr. Skr. masha a bean.]
A money of account in China equal to one tenth of a tael; also, a weight of 57.98 grains.
S. W. Williams.
© Webster 1913.
Mace (?), n. [F. macis, L. macis, macir, Gr. ; cf. Skr. makaranda the nectar or honey of a flower, a fragrant mango.] Bot.
A kind of spice; the aril which partly covers nutmegs. See Nutmeg.
Red mace is the aril of Myristica tingens, and white mace that of M. Otoba, -- East Indian trees of the same genus with the nutmeg tree.
© Webster 1913.
Mace, n. [OF. mace, F. masse, from (assumed) L. matea, of which the dim. mateola a kind of mallet or beetle, is found.]
1.
A heavy staff or club of metal; a spiked club; -- used as weapon in war before the general use of firearms, especially in the Middle Ages, for breaking metal armor.
Chaucer.
Death with his mace petrific . . . smote.
Milton.
2.
Hence: A staff borne by, or carried before, a magistrate as an ensign of his authority.
"Swayed the royal
mace."
Wordsworth.
3.
An officer who carries a mace as an emblem of authority.
Macaulay.
4.
A knobbed mallet used by curriers in dressing leather to make it supple.
5. Billiards
A rod for playing billiards, having one end suited to resting on the table and pushed with one hand.
Mace bearer, an officer who carries a mace before person in authority.
© Webster 1913.