noun
Messer
MEH-suh
noun
1
A medieval single-edged sword with a knife-like grip, historically used in German-speaking Europe.
"The museum displayed a 15th-century messer alongside other late-medieval swords."
2
Someone who makes a mess of something.
"He's a notorious messer in the kitchen, leaving pans and spills everywhere."
How to Use Messer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a type of old single-edged sword, or, informally, someone who makes a mess or messes around.
When to use it
The "sword" sense is a specialist historical/collector's term; the "person who messes" sense is informal.
Word Forms
Messers plural, messers plural, messers plural, messers plural
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The museum displayed a 15th-century _____ alongside other late-medieval swords.
Etymology
The sword sense comes from German Messer, meaning "knife." Separately, the "one who messes" sense simply adds the agent suffix "-er" to the English verb "mess."