Definition of the word mete out

The phrase "mete out" originated in the late 16th century, during the time when meteorology was still in its early stages of being studied and understood. Meteorology, as the name suggests, deals with the study of meteors (shining bodies in the sky, commonly known as shooting stars). At that time, people mistook the bright trails left behind by falling meteors as small objects falling from the sky, wrongfully assuming them to be a form of rain. These objects were then called "meteorical rain". As rain was an important source of freshwater for rural communities, the local authorities would often ration it to them to ensure a steady supply. This process of distributing resources, particularly water, in controlled proportions over a particular period, came to be known as "mete out". The term "mete out" thus, stems from the ancient practice of measuring out tiny portions of rainwater by comparing them to the trajectories and paths of meteors in the sky. Since the term quite literally means "to divide out or measure in small portions", its meaning has since evolved to include any controlled distribution of resources, thus taking on a more general usage in modern language.