Maze. "The quaint mazes in the wanton green" (M. N. D. ii. 2) may perhaps have been merely the fairy rings; but there was in many places what was called a Maze or Troy town, or Walls of Troy, in which young people used to run for amusement. "They are generally," says Stukely, "upon open green places by the sides of roads or rivers, upon meadows or the like, near a town." For descriptions of them see Notes and Queries, 3 S. x. 283, 398.
Meacock (T. Sh. ii. 1), a tame, dastardly person. Its most probable derivation is meekock, perhaps its original form (-ock being a diminutive, as in hillock, bullock, etc.).
Measure (L. L. L. v. 2, As Y. L. v. 4), a stately, slow dance, like the minuet of the last century.
Meazle (Cor. iii. 2), leper (mesel, meseau Old Fr.; from misellus?).
Medicine (All's Well, ii. 1, W. T. iv. 3), physician (probably médecin, Fr.).
Mephistophilus (M. W. i. 1), the well-known spirit or familiar in the story of Dr. Faustus. In Marlowe's play on the subject he was probably represented as very slender in person.
Merchant (R. and J. ii. 4) was used as we now use chap (i.e. chapman), in my chap, a saucy chap, etc.
Merry, cheerful, pleasant; the adj. of mirth. Hence merry (i.e. pleasant) England.
"That made hem in a cite for to tarie,
That stood ful mery upon a haven side."