[2] In Ancient Chaldea, "Mes-" meaning "hero or champions" appears in the roster of kings, and this Chaldean word derived from Sumerian mas 'cut, divide' or mâsu 'warrior'.
The poet intended to goad the Leinstermen into killing him, thereby causing war between Leinster and Ulster, so he named an impossible bribe, a lost buried heirloom jewel, but that was fortuitously found and given him.
The ensuing battle, the Siege of Howth, was a bloody stalemate which ceased when Leinster retreated and erected a red wall as barrier, which Ulstermen were forbidden from crossing (due to a geis).
[8][17] The one-handed Mesgegra, forced to act as his own charioteer, is met with worse luck when he encounters the Ulster warrior Conall Cernach, who was seeking revenge for two fallen brothers in the earlier battle.
Conall is triumphant and carries Mesgegara's severed head to Leinster, hoping to claim Mesgegra's queen as his prize (as the poet predicted), but she falls dead in sorrow.
[27] The one-handed figure appears alongside a one-eyed (French: borgne) Eochaid mac Luchta, the king of South Connacht, whose Norse counterpart is Óðinn.
[27] Scowcroft conjectures there was some wisdom-gaining underlying theme, similar to Óðinn losing an eye in Mimir's Well, as the strange nut that Mesgegra ate is reminiscent of the hazelnut of water-pool of Segais which imparted wisdom to the Salmon of Knowledge.