Damn. I know it means table in Latin, but this Spanish thing is new to me. Funny how Spanish comes from Latin but the meaning has changed so much
Latin
Alternative forms
- mēsa (Vulgar or Late Latin, Appendix Probi)
Etymology
Probably substantialization of the feminine form of the perfect passive participle of
mēnsus (“measured”).
Spanish
Etymology
Arguably taken from
Latin mensa (“table”); it is thought that medieval
monks used the names of
inanimate objects in disparaging reference to
illiterate or non‐discerning people, partially out of a desire to not use an explicitly
pejorative insult as would be forbidden by their
canons.
Interesting