Messes

Messes is the plural form of mess and is used for several related concepts linked to meals, order, and social groups. In everyday language, a mess can refer to a state of disorder or untidiness, and the plural can describe multiple such situations.

In institutional and military contexts, a mess is a dining facility where meals are prepared and eaten. On ships, the term mess deck is common, while in land-based settings a mess hall or cafeteria serves a similar function. The word also designates the social group that uses the facility, such as the officers’ mess or the junior mess, groups organized by role, rank, or function. These groups often have distinct schedules and spaces, reinforcing a sense of identity within the larger organization.

Outside of dining, the term mess can describe a broader organizational arrangement, where resources, kitchens, and seating are allocated by messes to support meals for specific personnel or residents. In some contexts, the concept of a mess extends to informal social gatherings centered on shared meals, especially in military, maritime, or institutional settings.

As a verb, to mess means to make something dirty, disordered, or spoiled; to “mess up” is to ruin a plan or outcome. The word’s historical usage reflects a shared meal or portion of food, with the sense expanding to the place and people associated with that meal.

See also: mess hall, mess deck, officers’ mess, junior mess, mess kit.