MESSUAGUM, in Law, a dwelling-house, with some land adjoining assigned for its use. By the name of messuage may a garden, thorn, mill, cottage, chamber, cellar, or the like, pass.—In Scotland, messuage denotes what is called in England the manor-house, viz. the principal dwelling-house within any barony.

MESOPORPHYRON, a name given by the Greeks to the Roman laetivlae; because that garment, being edged on each side, where it opened before, with purple, appeared when clothed with two purple stripes down the middle. The same term was also applied to the angustulae.