What does mease mean?
The term mease refers to an archaic unit of measurement for dry goods, particularly fruits and vegetables. It is approximately equivalent to one-fifth or one-sixth of a bushel. Historically, it was used in various regions to quantify goods for trade and sale. Although largely obsolete, it can still be encountered in historical texts or in specific regional dialects. Understanding mease provides insight into the evolution of measurement systems and their regional variations. The term is useful for those studying historical trade practices or regional linguistic peculiarities.
nounA mease was a unit of measurement for dry goods, especially for fruit or vegetables, equivalent to about 1/5 or 1/6 of a bushel.
- A unit of dry measurement
- A quantity of fruit or vegetables
"The farmer sold a mease of apples at the market."
"The recipe called for a mease of dried fruit."
"The vendor offered a mease of fresh berries for sale."
The plural form is used when referring to multiple units of measurement.
"The merchant sold several meases of grain."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of mease
The word mease originates from the Old French 'mesure', meaning 'measure'. It developed into Middle English as 'mease', used to denote a specific quantity of goods. The term was commonly used in medieval England for measuring dry goods.
How mease is actually used
This term is largely obsolete and mainly found in historical or regional contexts.