mess

n. ²
1. (lit.) party of four at a banquet or table,set offour,group of four 宴会或餐桌上的四人一席，（转指）四人一伙，四人一组。
△3H.VI.1.4.73: “Where are your messof sons to back you now?” 支持你的那四个儿子现在又在哪里？
△L.L.L.4.3.207 (203): “That you three foolslacked me fool to make up the mess.” 你们三个傻瓜，加上我正好四人一桌(又译：同道四人)。
△L.L. L. 5.2.362(361): “A mess of Russians left us but of late.” 四个俄罗斯人刚刚离开我们。
2. eating-place,table餐桌。
△Ham. 5.2.88 (85):“leta beast be lord of beasts,and his crib shall stand atthe King’s mess.” i. e. a man of large possessions isreceived at court though himself no better than abeast. 一头畜生做了许多畜生的主人，就会把它的秣槽搬到国王的饭桌上来的。
3. dish of food,course of a meal 菜肴。
△Lr.1.1.119(117): “Or he that makes his generation messes / Togorge his appetite，” 或者把自己亲生骨肉当做菜肴来解馋的食人生番。
△Shr.4.4.70: “Welcome! one mess is liketo be your cheer.”请！ 您今天这顿饭恐怕只有一道菜了。
4. what a person needs for a single course,quantity e-nough to make a dish,small quantity一道菜，一盘菜所需之量，少量。
△2H.IV.2.1.106 (95):“coming in to bor-row a mess of vinegar，” 进来要借一点醋。