Mouse

Mouse, mows, n. a little rodent animal found in houses and in the fields:—pl. Mice (mīs): one of various animals like the mouse, the flitter-mouse, shrew-mouse: part of a hind-leg of beef, next the round—also Mouse′-butt′ock and Mouse′-piece: a match for firing a cannon or mine: a small cushion for a woman's hair: (slang) a black eye, or discoloured swelling: a term of endearment.—v.t. and v.i. (mowz), to hunt for mice: to pursue slyly: to prowl: to tear as a cat tears a mouse: (naut.) to pass a turn or two of rope yarn round the point of a tackle-hook to prevent its unhooking.—ns. Mouse′-ear, a name of several plants with soft leaves shaped like a mouse's ear; Mouse′-hole, a hole for mice: a small hole or opening; Mouse′-hunt (Shak.), a mouser; Mouse′kin, Mous′ie, a young mouse; Mous′er, a catcher of mice; Mous′ery, a resort of mice; Mouse′-sight, myopia; Mouse′tail, a small plant with a spike of seed-vessels very like the tail of a mouse; Mouse′-trap, a trap for catching mice; Mous′ing, act of catching mice.—adj. given to catching mice.—adj. Mous′y, like a mouse in colour or smell: abounding with mice. [A.S. mús, pl. mýs; Ger. maus, L. and Gr. mus.]