from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Titmouse \Tit"mouse`\, n.; pl. {Titmice}. [OE. titemose,
titmase; tit small, or a small bird + AS. m[=a]se a kind of
small bird; akin to D. mees a titmouse, G. meise, OHG. meisa,
Icel. meisingr. The English form has been influenced by the
unrelated word mouse. Cf. {Tit} a small bird.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of small insectivorous singing
birds belonging to {Parus} and allied genera; -- called also
{tit}, and {tomtit}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The blue titmouse ({Parus coeruleus}), the marsh
titmouse ({Parus palustris}), the crested titmouse
({Parus cristatus}), the great titmouse ({Parus
major}), and the long tailed titmouse ({Aegithalos
caudatus}), are the best-known European species. See
{Chickadee}.
[1913 Webster]