MOPPAT. An early name for the sponge of a cannon.
MOPUSSES. A cant term for money in general.
MORASS. Nearly the same thing as a marsh or swamp. In tropical regions they are often overflowed with salt water, yet covered with mangrove and many aquatic plants.
MORGLAY. A great sword, alluded to formerly.
MORION. An ancient steel casque or helmet, without beaver or visor. According to Chaucer it was of more uses than one:—
"Their beef they often in their morion stewed."
MORNING GUN. The gun fired from the admiral's or senior officer's ship, to announce day-break, which is answered by the muskets of the sentries in the other ships.
MORNING STAR. An offensive weapon of the mediæval times, consisting of a staff, to which was attached an iron ball covered with spikes. Also, the planet which is near the meridian at day-dawn.
MORNING WATCH. Those of the crew on watch from 4 to 8 A.M.
MORRA. An ancient game still played in Italy with extraordinary zest, by two persons raising the right hand, and suddenly and contemporaneously throwing it down with only some of the fingers extended, when the aim is to guess what they unitedly amount to. Also, a term for a headland or promontory on the coasts of Chili and Peru. Also, a round tower or fort, as at Havana [from the Spanish morro, round].