Mere-stone. A boundary stone (Amateur Poacher, ch. iii).—N.W.
Merry. The cherry; applied to both black and red varieties, but especially the small semi-wild fruit.—N. & S.W.
Merry-flower. The wild Cherry.—S.W. (Barford.)
*Mesh (e long). Moss or lichen on an old apple-tree.—S.W. (Som. bord.)
Messenger. (1) A sunbeam reaching down to the horizon from behind a cloud is sometimes said to be the sun 'sending out a messenger.' Cf. Cope's Hants Glossary. Used by children in both N. & S. Wilts. (2) pl. The small detached clouds that precede a storm (Greene Ferne Farm, ch. vi).—N. & S.W.
*Mice's-mouths. Linaria vulgaris, Mill., Snapdragon.—S.W. (Farley.)
Michaelmas Crocus. Colchicum autumnale, L., Meadow Saffron.—N.W.
Mickle. Much (A.S.). A.S. micel.—N. & S.W., occasionally.
Mid, Med. v. Might or may (S.).—N.W.
Middling. (1) Ailing in health (H.); Middlinish (Wilts Tales, p. 137).—N. & S.W. (2) Tolerable, as 'a middlin' good crop.' Middlekin is occasionally used in S. Wilts in this sense.—N. & S.W. 'Very middling' (with a shake of the head), bad, or ill; 'pretty middling' (with a nod), good, or well (Wilts Arch. Mag. vol. xxii. p. 112).