from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Mule \Mule\ (m[=u]l), n. [F., a she-mule, L. mula, fem. of
mulus; cf. Gr. my`klos, mychlo`s. Cf. AS. m[=u]l, fr. L.
mulus. Cf. {Mulatto}.]
1. (Zool.) A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated
between an ass and a mare. Sometimes the term is applied
to the offspring of a horse and a she-ass, but that hybrid
is more properly termed a {hinny}. See {Hinny}.
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Note: Mules are much used as draught animals. They are hardy,
and proverbial for stubbornness.
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2. (Bot.) A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the
pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust
of another; -- called also {hybrid}.
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3. A very stubborn person.
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4. A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool,
etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; --
called also {jenny} and {mule-jenny}.
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5. A slipper that has no fitting around the heel.
Syn: mules, scuff, scuffs.
[WordNet 1.5]
{Mule armadillo} (Zool.), a long-eared armadillo (Tatusia
hybrida), native of Buenos Ayres; -- called also {mulita}.
See Illust. under {Armadillo}.
{Mule deer} (Zool.), a large deer ({Cervus macrotis} syn.
{Cariacus macrotis}) of the Western United States. The
name refers to its long ears.
{Mule pulley} (Mach.), an idle pulley for guiding a belt
which transmits motion between shafts that are not
parallel.
{Mule twist}, cotton yarn in cops, as spun on a mule; -- in
distinction from yarn spun on a throstle frame.
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