Mesopotamia. The ancient description of the region situate between the Tigris and the Euphrates. The name is Greek, from mesos, middle, and potamos, river.
Messe Rouge. Expresses the French for “Red Mass.” At the resumption of their duties at the Law Courts after the Long Vacation all the Catholic judges and barristers attend a Mass of the Holy Ghost to invoke the Spirit for the gift of wisdom. Like the masses of the Feast of the Holy Ghost, the vestment worn by the officiating priest is red, in allusion to the tongues of fire that descended upon the Apostles on Whit Sunday.
Methodists. This name was first given by a fellow-student of Christ Church, Oxford, to the Brothers Wesley and a few friends who were in the habit of meeting on certain evenings for religious conversation. They also visited the inmates of Oxford Jail at stated times, always faithfully kept their engagements, and acted up to their Christian principles in a strictly methodical manner. The new sect was afterwards styled by John Wesley “The First Methodist Society.”
Metz. This city was styled by the Romans Mettis, from the Medio matrici, the people of the country, whom they conquered.
Mexico. Expresses the seat or place of Mexitli, the Aztec god of war.
Michaelmas Day. The feast of St Michael, prince of the heavenly host, and patron saint of the Catholic Church. This is properly described as “St Michael and all Angels” (29th September).
Michaelmas Goose. Stubble geese being at their best about this time, the rural tenantry always brought their landlords a goose with their Michaelmas rent. Since the latter usually received more geese than they could consume themselves, they passed them over to friends, and thus the goose became a standing Michaelmas dish.
Michigan. Indian for “a weir for fish.”
Middlesex. Expresses the territory of the Middle Saxons, situate between that of the East and West Saxons under the Heptarchy.
Middling. North of England, and also American, for medium or passable in the sense of feeling well.