mace /meɪs/ BrE AmE noun
[ Sense 1: Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: French ; Origin: macis , from Latin macir , from Greek ]
[ Sense 2-3: Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Vulgar Latin mattia ]
1 . [uncountable] a spice made from the dried shell of a ↑ nutmeg
2 . [countable] a heavy ball with sharp points on a short metal stick, used in the past as a weapon
3 . [countable] a decorated stick that is carried by an official in some ceremonies as a sign of power ⇨ sceptre