1. Plural of massa; a form of address used historically in the American South, typically by enslaved or formerly enslaved people toward white men (now considered offensive and archaic).
Usage: archaic; offensive; historical; primarily found in historical texts and literature

Examples

• Historical documents contain references to the term 'massas' in accounts from the antebellum South.
• The novel included dialogue using period-appropriate language, including the word 'massas'.
• Scholars studying American history encounter this term in primary sources from the 19th century.