The diplomatic sense of "body of persons sent to a foreign land on commercial or political business" is from 1620s in American English, sometimes "a foreign legation or embassy, the office of a foreign envoy" (1805). Meaning "an organized effort for the spread of religion or for enlightenment of a community" is by 1640s that of "a missionary post or station" is by 1769. Mess-locker "a small locker on shipboard for holding mess-gear" is by 1829.ġ590s, "a sending abroad" (as an agent), originally of Jesuits, from Latin missionem (nominative missio) "act of sending, a dispatching a release, a setting at liberty discharge from service, dismissal," noun of action from past-participle stem of mittere "to release, let go send, throw," which de Vaan traces to a PIE *m(e)ith- "to exchange, remove," also source of Sanskrit methete, mimetha "to become hostile, quarrel," Gothic in-maidjan "to change " he writes, "From original 'exchange', the meaning developed to 'give, bestow'. Mess-kit "the cooking- and table-utensils of a camp, with the chest in which they are kept" is by 1829. Mess-hall "area where military personnel eat and socialize" is by 1832.
Meaning "excrement" (of animals) is from 1903. General use for "a quantity" of anything is attested by 1830. The sense of "mixed food," especially "mixed food for animals" (1738), probably is what led to the contemptuous colloquial use of mess for "a jumble, a mixed mass" (1828) and the figurative sense of "state of confusion, a situation of disorder" (1834), as well as "condition of untidiness" (1851). Meaning "a communal eating place" (especially a military one) is attested by 1530s, from the earlier sense of "a company of persons eating together at the same table" (early 15c.), originally a group of four. For sense evolution, compare early Middle English sonde "a serving of food or drink a meal or course of a meal," from Old English sond, sand, literally "a sending," the noun form of send (v.). 1300, "a supply or provision of food for one meal," from Old French mes "portion of food, course at dinner," from Late Latin missus "course at dinner," literally "a placing, a putting (on a table, etc.)," from past participle of mittere "to put, place," in classical Latin "to send, let go" (see mission).
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