A place where dishes, kettles, and culinary utensils, are cleaned and kept; also, a room attached to the kitchen, where the coarse work is done; a back kitchen.

a small room (in large old British houses) next to the kitchen; where kitchen utensils are cleaned and kept and other rough household jobs are done

a room adjoining the kitchen where pots and pans are scrubbed and stored

Hence, refuse; filth; offal.

Where all the trays and cutlery are cleaned on the mess decks.