Glossary of Dune Terminology - M

M

• Mahdi – "In the Fremen messianic legend, 'The One Who Will Lead Us to Paradise;'" applied to Paul Atreides by the Fremen when they determine that he is their prophesied messiah.
• Maker hooks – "The hooks used for capturing, mounting, and steering a sandworm of Arrakis."
• Maula pistol – "Spring-loaded gun for firing poison darts; range about 40 metres."
• Master of Assassins - A House functionary in charge of managing intelligence gathering, sabotage, propaganda and other "soft" methods of influence. They also manage the House's actions in a War of Assassins. The intellectually-taxing nature of the office means it is usually given to a Mentat.
• Melange – Highly-addictive drug essential to space travel, extended life, and therefore to the survival of the universe.
• Mentats – Individuals trained as "human computers," their minds developed to staggering heights of cognitive and analytical ability.
• Missionaria Protectiva – An arm of the Bene Gesserit charged with spreading contrived myths, prophecies and superstition on primitive worlds so that the Bene Gesserit may later exploit those regions.
• Muad'Dib – "The adapted kangaroo mouse of Arrakis, a creature associated in the Fremen earth-spirit mythology with a design visible on the planet's second moon. This creature is admired by Fremen for its ability to survive in the open desert." In Dune, Paul Atreides takes "Muad'Dib" as his Fremen name, which takes on greater significance when he is perceived as a messiah.
• Muadru – Ancient religion predating the Old Empire before the Time of the Titans.