Word origins

• mesoplastroneither of a pair of transverse hexagonal bones in a turtle that lie between the hyoplastral and hypoplastral bones
• mesoscapheA submersible submarine designed for drifting on sea currents in the middle depth layers of the ocean.
• MessacA surname from French.
• MessidorThe tenth month of the French Republican Calendar, from June 19 or 20 to July 18 or 19.
• MessineOf or relating to the city of Metz
• metacentreThe point where a vertical line through a tilted vessel's center of buoyancy intersects the originally-vertical (but-now-tilted) line that passed through the center of buoyancy when the vessel was upright; it must be above the vessel's center of gravity for the vessel to have positive static stability (to tend to return to an upright orientation if rolled to one side, rather than to continue rolling to an inverted orientation).
• metayageA kind of sharecropping system.
• metayerOne who cultivates land for a share (usually half) of its yield, receiving stock, tools, and seed from the landlord.
• MetgeA surname.
• méthode champenoiseThe method of producing sparkling wine by secondary fermentation in bottle, as used in the production of champagne.
• métierAny activity that is pursued as a trade or profession; a calling.
• MetonicOf or pertaining to Meton of Athens.
• metopomancyDivination by interpreting the facial lines and wrinkles, especially the forehead.
• -metricForming adjectives corresponding to nouns in -meter.
• metric systemThe system of units developed in France in the 1790s and now used worldwide.
• meunièreOf fish: dredged in flour before being sautéd or pan-fried.
• meunière sauceA simple sauce made with brown butter, chopped parsley, and lemon.
• mézairIn manège, a movement comprising a series of levades with small steps between.
• MèzeA town in Hérault department, France.
• microcephalicHaving an abnormally small head.
• midinetteA female salesperson, a shopgirl, especially in Paris.
• MiglosA village in Ariège department, France.
• mignardiseA bite-sized dessert sometimes served at the end of a meal.
• migniardsoft; dainty
• mignonette sauceA condiment usually made with minced shallots, cracked pepper, and vinegar, and traditionally served with raw oysters.
• migraineurOne who experiences migraines.
• MijanèsA village in Ariège department, France.
• mille-feuilleA type of pastry made of several layers of puff pastry usually filled with cream or custard, and topped with icing or sugar.
• Mille Lacs CountyOne of 87 counties in Minnesota, United States. County seat: Milaca.
• milleporeAny coral of the genus Millepora, having the surface nearly smooth, and perforated with very minute unequal pores, or cells.
• milliardaireA billionaire; somebody whose wealth is greater than one milliard (10⁹) dollars, or other currency.
• millierSynonym of metric ton, 1000 kg.
• millimeA unit of currency equal to one thousandth of a Tunisian dinar.
• millistereA unit equal to one litre or cubic decimetre
• mimiambA short humorous dramatic scene in verse.
• mimologicsphonetic symbolism
• minauderieAffectation; an affected remark or behaviour.
• minaudièreA woman who is exaggeratedly affected or coquettish.
• minceurslenderness
• Ming's BightA town in Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
• minorantA function, all of whose values are not greater than the corresponding values of another function.
• mi-partiVertically divided into distinctly-coloured or patterned halves; party per pale.
• MiquelonnaisA person from the island of Miquelon.
• mirabelle plumA sweet, edible drupaceous fruit of the mirabelle prune tree, a cultivar of the plum tree of the subspecies Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca, often used in pies, wine, and brandy.
• mirativeA grammatical mood that expresses (surprise at) unexpected revelations or new information.
• misallianceAn unsuitable alliance, especially an unsuitable marriage.
• mise en abymeA recursive image; an image that contains a smaller representation of itself; especially where the smaller representation itself likewise contains a still smaller representation of the whole image, ad infinitum.
• mise-en-pagelayout (process, and result, of arranging media content for publishing)
• mise en placeA form of preparation that involves having ingredients and equipment ready in advance, so that only cooking is required.
• mise en scèneA physical environment; surroundings.
• misèreA bid to lose every trick, or the majority of tricks, with no trumps.
• MishoeA surname from French.
• misogynoirContempt for, hatred of, or prejudice against black women.
• misseyA surname from French.
• mistelleA drink produced by adding alcohol to grape juice.
• MistralianOf or pertaining to Frédéric Mistral
• mitrailladeMass execution by cannon shot or (later) machine-gun, especially during the French Revolution.
• mitrailleuseA breech-loading machine gun consisting of a number of barrels fitted together, so arranged that the barrels can be fired simultaneously, or successively, and rapidly.
• mixityThe state of being mixed.
• mock-upA scale or full-size model of a design or device which is not fully functional, used for teaching, demonstration, design evaluation, promotion, or other purposes.
• moderantismThe moderate policies of the Girondists and Dantonists during the French Revolution
• moderantistA proponent of moderantism.
• modistA follower of fashion.
• modisteA person who makes or sells fashionable women's clothing, especially dresses or hats.
• moelleuxOf mid-level sweetness.
• moellineAn unguent for the hair.
• moellonrubble used in masonry
• MohéliAn island of the Comoros, one of the three major islands that make up the country.
• moineauA small flat bastion, raised in the middle of an overlong curtain.
• moiréA pattern that emerges when two grids are superimposed over one another, sometimes unintended or undesirable in many applications, such as in weaving, screenprinting, and halftoning.
• MoisonA surname from French
• MoissanA surname from French
• MoissonA surname from French
• molasseA shallow deposit of sandstone, shale and conglomerate in front of a rising mountain chain.
• MoleneAn island off Brittany, France.
• molinetA short rod that was used for stirring hot chocolate drinks before emulsifiers were available.
• molletonA kind of thick woollen material, once important in the Canada trade.
• monarchismRule by a monarchy.
• MonégasqueA native or inhabitant of Monaco.
• MonestimeA surname from French.
• MonflanquinA village in Lot-et-Garonne department, France.
• monitricedoula (one who provides support during pregnancy and childbirth)
• MonnettA surname from French.
• monogynousExhibiting or relating to monogyny, having only one queen.
• monomaneA monomaniac.
• monomaniaExcessive interest or concentration on a singular object or subject.
• monoxylea canoe or boat made from a single piece of timber
• Monsieur de ParisThe public executioner in Paris, France.
• monstre sacréA striking, unusual public figure; an eccentric celebrity.
• -montForming a placename or a surname derived therefrom and denoting or connoting a hill or mountain; sometimes (as in estate names) used more for euphony and connotation than for geomorphic denotation. Word formation in English using the suffix to name towns and family estates was most productive in the mid-19th through mid-20th centuries.
• MontaillouA village in Ariège department, Occitania, France.
• mont blancA dessert consisting of chestnut purée which has been riced or extruded into vermicelli-like noodles.
• Mont-BlancA municipality of Les Laurentides Regional County Municipality, Laurentides, Quebec, Canada
• MontbrunA surname from French.
• Montceau-les-MinesA commune of Saône-et-Loire department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France.
• MontérégieAn administrative region in southwestern Quebec.
• MontferratA historical region of Piedmont, Italy, comprising parts of Asti and Alessandria.
• MontferrerMontferrer (a village and commune of Pyrénées-Orientales department, Occitania, France, formerly in the Vallespir district of Northern Catalonia).
• MonthieuA surname from French.
• Montjoie-en-CouseransA village and commune of Ariège department, France.