Mace

I decided today was dictionary day.  My finger fell on a word I think is a doozy.  “Mace”
It is not something I have ever really thought about and has multiple meanings and applications.  Meanings I have found are:  1. a heavy club with a metal head, often with spikes or flanges, that was used as a weapon in the Middle Ages 2. a ceremonial staff carried by an official as a symbol of authority  3. the reddish fleshy outer covering of the nutmeg, dried as a spice  4. an irritant chemical used in an aerosol to disable attackers.  It also stands for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event (MACE).  Who knew?  I didn’t anyway.
I mentioned todays word was mace to Merril and immediately she mentioned her dad leading the pipe band.  He would be out the front carrying what I now know as a mace.  It was a symbol that he lead the band and when it turned in any direction he would hold it out horizontal in the direction the band was turning and they would turn in formation.
It made me think of other piped bands I have seen and there is usually a person out front doing that.
I was also reminded of the opening of parliament.  There is usually a person that uses a mace to tap on the door.  When the door is opened the person with solemnity puts the mace in a prominent place to symbolize the authority of the gathering.
It seems to me a mace is usually given rather than taken.  It represents the authority of the gathering and can be given by a king or queen, tribal chief or the government of the day.  It says this gathering is approved by me and is acting on my behalf.
There would be people into such things but I did not know it was a weapon used in the middle ages.
I had heard of women having a mace spay in their hand bag to ward off attackers.  Apparently the liquid is really uncomfortable in the eyes and stops those with ill intent in their tracks allowing the victim time to make a get away.
As for a Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event (MACE) I think heart attack though it would not surprise it means more.
As Merril said “I learned something today.”  That’s me too.  It was not something I had considered and was all new to me.