†(a) a second or extra course, a dessert; also in figurative context (obsolete); (b) Navy a mess (mess, n.1 5b) situated in the rear of a ship.

A course of sweetmeats, fruit, and wine, served either as a separate entertainment, or as a continuation of the principal meal, but in the latter…

A later course in a meal; spec. the final course; a dessert. Frequently figurative.

A course of fruit; the dessert. to be in one's fruits: to be at dessert. Obsolete.

A course of fruit, sweetmeats, etc. served after a dinner or supper; ‘the last course at an entertainment’ (Johnson).

spec. A sweet dish (a pudding, tart, cooked fruit, etc.), or one of several such, forming a separate course at a meal. Usually plural in early use.

A course of sweetmeats at dinner.

The sweet course following the main course of a meal; pudding, dessert. Also with singular agreement. Cf. second, n.2 8.

Chiefly British. Any sweet dish served as a dessert. Also: the sweet course following the main course (or sometimes the cheese course) of a meal…

In plural. The sweet course following the main course of a meal; pudding, dessert. Cf. afters, n. rare.