from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Shrew \Shrew\, n. [See {Shrew}, a.]
1. Originally, a brawling, turbulent, vexatious person of
either sex, but now restricted in use to females; a
brawler; a scold.
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A man . . . grudgeth that shrews [i. e., bad men]
have prosperity, or else that good men have
adversity. --Chaucer.
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A man had got a shrew to his wife, and there could
be no quiet in the house for her. --L'Estrange.
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2. [AS. scre['a]wa; -- so called because supposed to be
venomous. ] (Zool.) Any small insectivore of the genus
{Sorex} and several allied genera of the family
{Sorecidae}. In form and color they resemble mice, but
they have a longer and more pointed nose. Some of them are
the smallest of all mammals.
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Note: The common European species are the house shrew
({Crocidura araneus}), and the erd shrew ({Sorex
vulgaris}) (see under {Erd}.). In the United States
several species of {Sorex} and {Blarina} are common, as
the broadnosed shrew ({Sorex platyrhinus}), Cooper's
shrew ({Sorex Cooperi}), and the short-tailed, or mole,
shrew ({Blarina brevicauda}). Th American water, or
marsh, shrew ({Neosorex palustris}), with fringed feet,
is less common. The common European water shrews are
{Crossopus fodiens}, and the oared shrew (see under
{Oared}).
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{Earth shrew}, any shrewlike burrowing animal of the family
{Centetidae}, as the tendrac.
{Elephant shrew}, {Jumping shrew}, {Mole shrew}. See under
{Elephant}, {Jumping}, etc.
{Musk shrew}. See {Desman}.
{River shrew}, an aquatic West African insectivore
({Potamogale velox}) resembling a weasel in form and size,
but having a large flattened and crested tail adapted for
rapid swimming. It feeds on fishes.
{Shrew mole}, a common large North American mole ({Scalops
aquaticus}). Its fine, soft fur is gray with iridescent
purple tints.
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from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mole \Mole\, n. [OE. molle, either shortened fr. moldwerp, or
from the root of E. mold soil: cf. D. mol, OD. molworp. See
{Moldwarp}.]
1. (Zool.) Any insectivore of the family {Talpidae}. They
have minute eyes and ears, soft fur, and very large and
strong fore feet.
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Note: The common European mole, or moldwarp ({Talpa
Europaea}), is noted for its extensive burrows. The
common American mole, or shrew mole ({Scalops
aquaticus}), and star-nosed mole ({Condylura cristata})
have similar habits.
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Note: In the Scriptures, the name is applied to two
unindentified animals, perhaps the chameleon and mole
rat.
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2. A plow of peculiar construction, for forming underground
drains. [U.S.]
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3. (fig.)A spy who lives for years an apparently normal life
(to establish a cover) before beginning his spying
activities.
[PJC]
{Duck mole}. See under {Duck}.
{Golden mole}. See {Chrysochlore}.
{Mole cricket} (Zool.), an orthopterous insect of the genus
{Gryllotalpa}, which excavates subterranean galleries, and
throws up mounds of earth resembling those of the mole. It
is said to do damage by injuring the roots of plants. The
common European species ({Gryllotalpa vulgaris}), and the
American ({Gryllotalpa borealis}), are the best known.
{Mole rat} (Zool.), any one of several species of Old World
rodents of the genera {Spalax}, {Georychus}, and several
allied genera. They are molelike in appearance and habits,
and their eyes are small or rudimentary.
{Mole shrew} (Zool.), any one of several species of
short-tailed American shrews of the genus {Blarina}, esp.
{Blarina brevicauda}.
{Water mole}, the duck mole.
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