Mouse

n.; pl. MIÇE. [A-S. mûs, pl. mys, Icel., Sw., & O. H. Ger. mûs, Dan. mus, muus, D. muis, N. H. Ger. maus, allied to Lat. mus, Gr. μῦς, Bohem. mys, Pol. mysz, Russ. & O. Slav. myshy, Serb. mish, Per. mûsh, Skr. mûshikâ, from mush, to steal, pilfer.]

1Sense 1. (Zoöl.) A small rodent quadruped (the Mus musculus), inhabiting houses. The name is also applied to many other allied species, as the field-mouse, meadow-mouse, rock-mouse, and the like.

2Sense 2. (Naut.) A knob formed on a rope by spun yarn or parceling.

Mouse-piece, the piece of beef cut from the part next below the round, or from the lower part of the latter; — called also mouse-buttock.

(mouz, 91), v. i. [imp. & p. p. MOUSED; p. pr. & vb. n. MOUSING.]

1Sense 1. To watch for and catch mice.

2Sense 2. To watch for or pursue any thing in a sly or insidious manner; to pry about, on the lookout for something.

(mouz), v. t. To tear, as a cat devours a mouse.

To mouse a hook (Naut.), to fasten a small line across the upper part, to prevent unhooking.