הֶמְסֵס, (מָסַס) [the dissolving (digesting) receptacle,] the first stomach of ruminants, cmp. הַבְלִילָא. Ḥull. III, 1 המסס (= הַהֶ׳, or הַמָּסָס). Lev. R. s. 4; Midr. Till. to Ps. CIII, beg. המ׳ לטחון the first stomach has the function of grinding (the food). Lev. R. s. 18; Koh. R. to XII, 3 ‘the grinders’ (ib.) זו ה׳ that is the stomach. [From later usage, e.g. Tur Yoré Deah 49, and from its Chald. equivalent it would seem that our w. is הֶמְסֵס, and the definite article fused with the ה of the noun.]