Obs. Forms: 4 entremass, -mees, -mes(se, entermews, entyrmes, 5 entermes, -mis, 7–8 entremess. [a. OFr. entremès (mod.F. entremets: see next), f. entre between + mès (mod.F. mets) course of viands:—L. missum something sent or placed.] Something served between the courses at a banquet; also fig.
1340. Ayenb., 56. And huanne þe mes byeþ y-come on efter þe oþer: þanne byeþ þe burdes and þe trufles uor entremes.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVI. 457. Thai had ane felloune entremass.
c. 1400. Maundev., xxxi. (1839), 309. In stede of entre messe, or a sukkarke.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, V. xxv. (1554), 138 a. Thus can this lady … Her entermis forth serue.
c. 1450. Bp. Grossetest’s Househ. Stat., in Babees Bk., 330. Commaunde ȝe þat youre dysshe be welle fyllyd and hepid, and namely of entermes.
c. 1460. Ros, La Belle Dame, 156, in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems, 57. For to juge his ruful semblance, god wote it was a piteous entemes [? read entermes].
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 130. The Entremeses shall be of a Fanaticks Giblets.
1708. Mortimer, Husb. (ed. 2), I. 444. The true Chard used in pottages and Entre-messes.
