The story
From French mésite (“mesite”), named by the zoologist Isidore Geoffroy in 1838. Perhaps from Ancient Greek μεσίτης (mesítēs, “mediator”), for these birds are of medium size.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
mesite
Today it means: Any of three species of bird in the family Mesitornithidae within the order Mesitornithiformes, endemic to Madagascar. Full definition →