mouse \mouse\ mous, n.; pl. mice mimacs. oe. mous, mus,
   as. m=us, pl. m=ys; akin to d. muis, g. maus, ohg. 
   icel. m=us, dan. muus, sw. mus, russ. muishe, l. mus, gr.
   my^s, skr. m=ush mouse, mush to steal. root277. 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.
      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 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.
      1913 webster
see also:
mice muscle musk mus muridae mus musculus 
white-footed mouse deer mouse peromyscus leucopus hesperomys leucopus dormouse 
meadow mouse meadow harvest mouse harvest mousing 
field mouse flying mouse field flying mouse bird 
mouse deer mouse galago galago murinus mouse hawk mouse owl 
mouse lemur chirogaleus mouse piece mouse buttock 

mus musculus
     n : brownish-gray old world mouse now a common household pest
         worldwide syn: house mouse
see also:
house mouse