(from Anglo-French mesuage, probably a corruption of mesuage, menage, popular Lat. mansionaticum, from mansio, whence mod. Fr. maison, from manere, to dwell), in law, a term equivalent to a dwelling-house, and including outbuildings, orchard, curtilage or court-yard and garden. At one time "messuage" is supposed to have had a more extensive meaning than that comprised in the word "house," but such distinction, if it ever existed, no longer survives.