mice
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mouse \Mouse\ (mous), n.; pl. {Mice} (m[imac]s). [OE. mous, mus,
AS. m[=u]s, pl. m[=y]s; akin to D. muis, G. maus, OHG. &
Icel. m[=u]s, Dan. muus, Sw. mus, Russ. muishe, L. mus, Gr.
my^s, Skr. m[=u]sh mouse, mush to steal. [root]277. Cf.
{Muscle}, {Musk}.]
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents
belonging to the genus {Mus} and various related genera of
the family {Muridae}. The common house mouse ({Mus
musculus}) is found in nearly all countries. The American
{white-footed mouse}, or {deer mouse} ({Peromyscus
leucopus}, formerly {Hesperomys leucopus}) sometimes lives
in houses. See {Dormouse}, {Meadow mouse}, under {Meadow},
and {Harvest mouse}, under {Harvest}.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Naut.)
(a) A knob made on a rope with spun yarn or parceling to
prevent a running eye from slipping.
(b) Same as 2d {Mousing}, 2.
[1913 Webster]
3. A familiar term of endearment. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. A dark-colored swelling caused by a blow. [Slang]
[1913 Webster]
5. A match used in firing guns or blasting.
[1913 Webster]
{Field mouse}, {Flying mouse}, etc. See under {Field},
{Flying}, etc.
{Mouse bird} (Zool.), a coly.
{Mouse deer} (Zool.), a chevrotain, as the kanchil.
{Mouse galago} (Zool.), a very small West American galago
({Galago murinus}). In color and size it resembles a
mouse. It has a bushy tail like that of a squirrel.
{Mouse hawk}. (Zool.)
(a) A hawk that devours mice.
(b) The hawk owl; -- called also {mouse owl}.
{Mouse lemur} (Zool.), any one of several species of very
small lemurs of the genus {Chirogaleus}, found in
Madagascar.
{Mouse piece} (Cookery), the piece of beef cut from the part
next below the round or from the lower part of the latter;
-- called also {mouse buttock}.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
mouse
mice
<hardware, graphics> The most commonly used computer {pointing
device}, first introduced by {Douglas Engelbart} in 1968.
The mouse is a device used to manipulate an on-screen
{pointer} that's normally shaped like an arrow. With the
mouse in hand, the computer user can select, move, and change
items on the screen.
A conventional {roller-ball mouse} is slid across the surface
of the desk, often on a {mouse mat}. As the mouse moves, a
ball set in a depression on the underside of the mouse rolls
accordingly. The ball is also in contact with two small
shafts set at right angles to each other inside the mouse.
The rotating ball turns the shafts, and sensors inside the
mouse measure the shafts' rotation. The distance and
direction information from the sensors is then transmitted to
the computer, usually through a connecting wire - the mouse's
"tail". The computer then moves the mouse pointer on the
screen to follow the movements of the mouse. This may be done
directly by the {graphics adaptor}, but where it involves the
processor the task should be assigned a high {priority} to
avoid any perceptible delay.
Some mice are contoured to fit the shape of a person's right
hand, and some come in left-handed versions. Other mice are
symmetrical.
Included on the mouse are usually two or three buttons that
the user may press, or click, to initiate various actions such
as running {programs} or opening {files}. The left-most
button (the {primary mouse button}) is operated with the index
finger to select and activate objects represented on the
screen. Different {operating systems} and {graphical user
interfaces} have different conventions for using the other
button(s). Typical operations include calling up a
{context-sensitive menu}, modifying the selection, or pasting
text. With fewer mouse buttons these require combinations of
mouse and keyboard actions. Between its left and right
buttons, a mouse may also have a wheel that can be used for
scrolling or other special operations defined by the software.
Some systems allow the mouse button assignments to be swapped
round for left-handed users.
Just moving the pointer across the screen with the mouse
typically does nothing (though some CAD systems respond to
patterns of mouse movement with no buttons pressed).
Normally, the pointer is positioned over something on the
screen (an {icon} or a {menu} item), and the user then clicks
a mouse button to actually affect the screen display.
The five most common "gestures" performed with the mouse are:
{point} (to place the pointer over an on-screen item), {click}
(to press and release a mouse button), {double-click} {to
press and release a mouse button twice in rapid succession},
{right-click} (to press and release the right mouse button},
and {drag} (to hold down the mouse button while moving the
mouse).
Most modern computers include a mouse as standard equipment.
However, some systems, especially portable {laptop} and
{notebook} models, may have a {trackball}, {touchpad} or
{Trackpoint} on or next to the {keyboard}. These input
devices work like the mouse, but take less space and don't
need a desk.
Many other alternatives to the conventional roller-ball mouse
exist. A {tailless mouse}, or {hamster}, transmits its
information with {infrared} impulses. A {foot-controlled
mouse (http://footmouse.com/) is one used on the floor
underneath the desk. An optical mouse uses a
light-emitting diode and photocells instead of a rolling
ball to track its position. Some optical designs may require
a special mouse mat marked with a grid, others, like the
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer, work on nearly any surface.
Yahoo!
(http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Companies/Computers/Hardware/Peripherals/Input_Devices/Mice/).
(http://peripherals.about.com/library/weekly/aa041498.htm).
PC Guide's "Troubleshooting Mice"
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