Meuse

Meuse. 1. A river (called also Maas), rises in France, in the department of Haute-Marne, flows northerly into Belgium, turns east at Namur, and, after another northerly course, finally bends westerly and joins the Waal, one of the mouths of the Rhine. When the stream again divides, the northern part is called the Old Maas. The New Maas is the name given to the lower waters of the Lek, from Rotterdam downwards. It is connected with the Old Maas by a canal. The total course of the river is about 500 miles; it is navigable from below Verdun. The chief towns on its banks are Sedan, Namur, Liege, Maestricht, and Rotterdam.

2. A department in north-eastern France, on the Belgian frontier, having Meurthe-et-Moselle on the east, and Marne and Ardennes on the west, It has an area of 2,404 square miles. From its fertile soil much wheat and beet-root are produced, and the vines yield wine. There are also iron mines and manufactures of glass and paper. Barle-Duc is the chief town, Verdun and Montmedy being the largest of the others.