★ If your granny says she's got a mess of soup beans and cornbread, it means come over. Now. ★
Origin and Etymology
From older English "mess" meaning a portion or dish (via Old French mes), preserved in regional speech.
Usage Notes
In Appalachian speech, mess is most often tied to food - "mess of beans," "mess of greens" - but can also pop up in a playful scolding ("Don’t make a mess!"). Younger speakers may use it less often, except when quoting elders or joking.
Mostly, yes. In Appalachia and the rural South, it's nearly always about a quantity of food, but folks might jokingly use it for other things - like "a mess of kids" or "a mess of tools in the barn."
How much is a "mess" of food?
There's no exact measurement. It's "enough to share" - whether that's a pot of beans, a skillet of fried okra, or pan of cornbread.
Where did the phrase come from?
"Mess" as a portion of food goes way back - it shows up in English as far back as the 1300s for "a serving of food," likely from the Old French mes meaning "portion" or "dish." Appalachia kept that older meaning alive.
Can I still use it today without sounding old-fashioned?
Absolutely. Around the hills, "mess" is still everyday talk when you're braggin' about a big harvest or a potluck spread.
Is a "mess" a specific measurement?
Not really. It’s flexible-think "enough for everybody."
What’s the difference between a "mess" and a "heap" or "passel"?
Mess usually means a meal-sized amount of food. Heap and passel are looser and can describe any large quantity, food or otherwise.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 9). Mess. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/mess/
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Mess." HillbillySlang.com, 9 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/mess/.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Mess." HillbillySlang.com. August 9, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/mess/.
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
