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}.
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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.
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3. A familiar term of endearment. --Shak.
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4. A dark-colored swelling caused by a blow. [Slang]
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5. A match used in firing guns or blasting.
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{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}.
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