Why is food in the Army called 'mess'?  Such as mess hall, mess kit, mess duty, etc.

"Mess" derives ultimately from the Late Latin "missus," which meant
"course at a meal".  The use of "mess" in English dates from the 14th
century, and has both archaic and modern meanings relating to food and
meals.  "Mess hall" dates from 1862, and "mess kit" from about 1877.

"Mess"
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
Merriam-Webster
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=mess

The American Heritage Dictionary adds that "mes" in Middle English
meant "course of a meal, food, group of people eating together".

"Mess"
The American HeritageŽ Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth
Edition. 2000
Barteby.com
http://www.bartleby.com/61/0/M0240000.html

The modern sense of mess as "a confused jumble or a dirty or untidy
state" only dates back to 1828.  By that time, "mess" was established
in naval and other military usage as a group of men who ate together. 
You can find these and other etymological facts about "mess" at:

"Q and A Section: Mess"
World Wide Words
http://www.quinion.com/words/qa/qa-mes1.htm

"What is the meaning of mess as it pertains to the military? Where did
it originate?"
Take Our Word for It
http://www.takeourword.com/Issue106.html (scroll about half-way down
the page)

- justaskscott-ga


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