DCHP-1 Online
mess beef † Hist. 
salted beef or pork, prepared in barrels made up of assorted cuts.
- 1770 Just imported, from Cork . . . a few Barrels and Half Barrels of Irish Pork and Mess-Beef, and a few Firkins of Hog's Lard.
- 1824 Prime Mess Beef shall consist of pieces of fat cattle, with the ends of the hocks, and half of the neck taken off.
- 1961 One Sunday special was "des grillades," mess pork cut into slices and fried.
- 1770 Just imported, from Cork . . . a few Barrels and Half Barrels of Irish Pork and Mess-Beef, and a few Firkins of Hog's Lard.