Mace

mās, n. a staff used as a mark of authority: a light, flat-headed stick in use at billiards before the introduction of the bridge or cue-rest: formerly, a weapon of war, consisting of a staff headed with a heavy spiked ball of iron: a mallet used by a currier in dre ing leather.— n. Mace′-bear′er , one who carries the mace in a proce ion, or before men in authority—also Mac′er . [O. Fr. mace (Fr. ma e )—obs. L. mate a , whence L. dim. mateola , a mallet.]