Mus musculus

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. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus {Mus} and various related genera of the family {Murid[ae]}. 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} (Zo["o]l.), a coly.

{Mouse deer} (Zo["o]l.), a chevrotain, as the kanchil.

{Mouse galago} (Zo["o]l.), 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}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A hawk that devours mice. (b) The hawk owl; -- called also {mouse owl}.

{Mouse lemur} (Zo["o]l.), 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]