A quantity of fish or other edibles.
1775. He told me, that his mother had an inclination to eat fish, and he was come to get her a mess.—B. Romans, ‘Florida,’ p. 12.
1830. We saw yesterday a large mess of early potatoes.—Mass. Spy, June 23.
1853. There was wolves in the Holler—an unaccountable mess of ’em; and painters—the wust kind of painters.—Knick. Mag., xli. 502 (June).
1854. I got a rare mess of golden and silver and bright cupreous fishes, which looked like a string of jewels.—Thoreau, ‘Walden,’ p. 338. (N.E.D.)
1878. The mass of the people were living on corn-bread, potatoes, and “green truck,” with an occasional mess of fish or game.—J. H. Beadle,’ Western Wilds,’ p. 381–2.
