What is the origin of the word mess that the army uses for formal dinners?

Answer 1

The root of "mess" is the Old French "mes," portion of food, drawn from the Latin verb "mittere," meaning "to send" or "to put," the original sense being "a course of a meal put on the table." This sense of "mess," which appeared in English in the 13th century, was often used for cooked or liquid dishes in particular, as in the "mess of pottage" (porridge or soup) for which Esau in Genesis traded his birthright. By the 15th century, a group of people who ate together was also known as a "mess," and it is this sense that persists in the "mess halls" of today's military.

Answer 2

Old French mes, "meal". It meant especially a meal that was a concoction of ingredients mixed or mashed together, or a watery food, like a soup. Not heard of the phrase "a mess of pottage"? (Have a look in the Bible, Genesis XXV 29-34.)

It's from this it gets its modern meaning of "mixed up" or by extension "untidy".

Incidentally, in the armed forces, and in fact other areas as well, it refers to ANY meal or feeding arrangements, not just formal ones.

Answer 3

Th mess is the place where military eat not a formal meal ie.officers mess,sgts mess,airmans mess.

Answer 4

It comes from the Middle English "mes": a meal, or group of people eating together

Answer 5

If you ever saw when they prepare food in the military, you'd understand where they came up with that term.

I did KP once and believe me, it was a mess!

Answer 6

The food is usually rubbish.

Answer 7

want the easy, but by no means correct answer? go watch a group of soldiers eat sometime.

Answer 8

Well if you can imagine what a kitchen would be like if it was run by men and not women......it would be a mess, that's for sure.