Chapter 1009

Muff"ish (?) , a. [See Muff , 4 & 5.] Stupid; awkward. [Colloq.]

Muffle <Xpage=951>

Muf"fle (?) , n. The bare end of the nose between the nostrils; -- used esp. of ruminants.

Muffle <Xpage=951>

Muf"fle , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Muffled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Muffling (?) .] [Cf. F. moufle a mitten, LL. muffula , OD. moffel a muff. See Muff .] 1. To wrap up in something that conceals or protects; to wrap, as the face and neck, in thick and disguishing folds; hence, to conceal or cover the face of; to envelop; to inclose; -- often with up .

South.

The face lies muffled up within the garment. Addison.

He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes. Dryden.

Muffled up in darkness and superstition. Arbuthnot.

2. To prevent seeing, or hearing, or speaking, by wraps bound about the head; to blindfold; to deafen.

3. To wrap with something that dulls or deadens the sound of; as, to muffle the strings of a drum, or that part of an oar which rests in the rowlock .

Muffle <Xpage=951>

Muf"fle , v. i. [Cf. F. maffle , mumble , D. moffelen .] To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation.

Muffle <Xpage=951>

Muf"fle , n. [F. moufle , prop., a mitten, from the resemblance in shape. See Muffle , v. t. , Muff .] 1. Anything with which another thing, as an oar or drum, is muffled; also, a boxing glove; a muff.

2. (Metal.) An earthenware compartment or oven, often shaped like a half cylinder, used in furnaces to protect objects heated from the direct action of the fire, as in scorification of ores, cupellation of ore buttons, etc.

3. (Ceramics) A small oven for baking and fixing the colors of painted or printed pottery, without exposing the pottery to the flames of the furnace or kiln.

4. A pulley block containing several sheaves.

Knight.

Muffler <Xpage=951>

Muf"fler (?) , n. 1. Anything used in muffling; esp., a scarf for protecting the head and neck in cold weather; a tippet.

Fortune is painted blind, with a muffler above her eyes. Shak.

2. (Mus.) A cushion for terminating or softening a note made by a stringed instrument with a keyboard.

3. A kind of mitten or boxing glove, esp. when stuffed.

4. One who muffles.

Muflon <Xpage=951>

Muf"lon (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Mouflon .

Mufti <Xpage=951>

Muf"ti (?) , n. ; pl. Muftis (#) . [Ar. mufti .] An official expounder of Mohammedan law.

Mufti <Xpage=951>

Muf"ti , n. Citizen's dress when worn by a naval or military officer; -- a term derived from the British service in India. [Colloq. Eng.]

Mug <Xpage=951>

Mug (?) , n. [Cf. Ir. mugam a mug, mucog a cup.] 1. A kind of earthen or metal drinking cup, with a handle, -- usually cylindrical and without a lip.

2. The face or mouth. [Slang]

Thackeray.

Muggard <Xpage=951>

Mug"gard (?) , a. [Cf. G. mucker a sulky person, muckish sullen, peevish, mucken to mutter, grumble.] Sullen; displeased. [Obs.]

Mugget <Xpage=951>

Mug"get (?) , n. The small entrails of a calf or a hog.

Mugginess <Xpage=951>

Mug"gi*ness (?) , n. The condition or quality of being muggy.

Muggish <Xpage=951>

Mug"gish (?) , a. See Muggy .

Muggletonian <Xpage=951>

Mug`gle*to"ni*an (?) , n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of an extinct sect, named after Ludovic Muggleton , an English journeyman tailor, who (about 1657) claimed to be inspired.

Eadie.

Muggy <Xpage=951>

Mug"gy (?) , a. [ Compar. Muggier (?) ; superl. Muggiest .] [Cf. Icel. mugga mist, mugginess. Cf. 4th Mold .] 1. Moist; damp; moldy; as, muggy straw .

2. Warm, damp, and close; as, muggy air, weather .

<page="952"> Page 952

Mughouse <Xpage=952>

Mug"house` (?) , n. An alehouse; a pothouse.

Tickel.

Mugiency <Xpage=952>

Mu"gi*en*cy (?) , n. A bellowing. [Obs.]

Mugient <Xpage=952>

Mu"gi*ent (?) , a. [L. mugiens , p.pr. of mugire to bellow.] Lowing; bellowing. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Mugil <Xpage=952>

Mu"gil (?) , n. [L., a sort of fish.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of fishes including the gray mullets. See Mullet .

Mugiloid <Xpage=952>

Mu"gi*loid (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Like or pertaining to the genus Mugil, or family Mugilid\'91 .

Mugweed <Xpage=952>

Mug"weed` (?) , n. (Bot.) A slender European weed ( Galium Cruciata ); -- called also crossweed .

Mugwort <Xpage=952>

Mug"wort` (?) , n. [AS. mucgwyrt . Cf. Midge .] (Bot.) A somewhat aromatic composite weed ( Artemisia vulgaris ), at one time used medicinally; -- called also motherwort .

Mugwump <Xpage=952>

Mug"wump` (?) , n. [Cf. Algonquin mugquomp a chief.] A bolter from the Republican party in the national election of 1884; an Independent. [Political Cant, U.S.]

Mugwumpery, Mugwumpism <Xpage=952>

Mug"wump`er*y (?) , Mug"wump*ism (?) , n. The acts and views of the mugwumps. [Political Cant, U.S.]

Muhammadan, Muhammedan <Xpage=952>

Mu*ham"mad*an (?) , Mu*ham"med*an (?) , a. & n. Mohammedan.

Muhammadanism <Xpage=952>

Mu*ham"mad*an*ism (?) , n. Mohammedanism.

Mulada <Xpage=952>

Mu*la"da (?) , n. A moor. [Scot.]

Lockhart.

Mulada <Xpage=952>

Mu*la"da (?) , n. [Sp. Amer., fr. Sp. mulo , mula , a mule.] A drove of mules. [Southwest. U.S.]

Mulatto <Xpage=952>

Mu*lat"to (?) , n. ; pl. Mulattoes (#) . [Sp. & Pg. mulato , masc., mulata , fem., of a mixed breed, fr. mulo mule, L. mulus . See Mule .] The offspring of a negress by a white man, or of a white woman by a negro, -- usually of a brownish yellow complexion.

Mulattress <Xpage=952>

Mu*lat"tress , n. A female mulatto.

G. W. Gable.

Mulberry <Xpage=952>

Mul"ber*ry (?) , n. ; pl. Mulberries (#) . [OE. moolbery , murberie , AS. murberie , where the first part is fr. L. morum mulberry; cf. Gr. <?/, <?/. Cf. Murrey , Sycamore .] 1. (Bot.) The berry or fruit of any tree of the genus Morus ; also, the tree itself. See Morus .

2. A dark pure color, like the hue of a black mulberry.

Mulberry mass . (Biol.) See Morula . -- Paper mulberry , a tree ( Broussonetia papyrifera ), related to the true mulberry, used in Polynesia for making tapa cloth by macerating and pounding the inner bark, and in China and Japan for the manufacture of paper. It is seen as a shade tree in America.

Mulberry-faced <Xpage=952>

Mul"ber*ry-faced` (-f&amac;st`) , a. Having a face of a mulberry color, or blotched as if with mulberry stains.

Mulch <Xpage=952>

Mulch (?) , n. [Cf. mull dirt, also Prov. G. mulsch , molsch , rotten, soft, mellow, as fruit.] Half-rotten straw, or any like substance strewn on the ground, as over the roots of plants, to protect from heat, drought, etc., and to preserve moisture.

Mulch <Xpage=952>

Mulch , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mulched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulching .] To cover or dress with mulch.

Mulct <Xpage=952>

Mulct (?) , n. [L. mulcta , multa .] 1. A fine or penalty, esp. a pecuniary punishment or penalty.

2. A blemish or defect. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Amercement; forfeit; forfeiture; penalty.

Mulct <Xpage=952>

Mulct , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mulcted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulcting .] [L. mulctare , multare .] 1. To punish for an offense or misdemeanor by imposing a fine or forfeiture, esp. a pecuniary fine; to fine.

2. Hence, to deprive of; to withhold by way of punishment or discipline. [Obs.]

Mulctary, Mulctuary <Xpage=952>

Mulc"ta*ry (?) , Mulc"tu*a*ry (?) , a. Imposing a pecuniary penalty; consisting of, or paid as, a fine.

Fines, or some known mulctuary punishments. Sir W. Temple.

Mule <Xpage=952>

Mule (?) , n. [F., a she-mule, L. mula , fem. of mulus ; cf. Gr. <?/, <?/. Cf. AS. m<?/l , fr. L. mulus . Cf. Mulatto .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny .

&hand; Mules are much used as draught animals. They are hardy, and proverbial for stubbornness.

2. (Bot.) A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; -- called also hybrid .

3. A very stubborn person.

4. A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; -- called also jenny and mule-jenny .

Mule armadillo (Zo\'94l.) , a long-eared armadillo (Tatusia hybrida) , native of Buenos Ayres; -- called also mulita . See Illust . under Armadillo . -- Mule deer (Zo\'94l.) , a large deer ( Cervus, &or; Cariacus, macrotis ) of the Western United States. The name refers to its long ears. -- Mule pulley (Mach.) , an idle pulley for guiding a belt which transmits motion between shafts that are not parallel. -- Mule twist , cotton yarn in cops, as spun on a mule; -- in distinction from yarn spun on a throstle frame.

Mule-jenny <Xpage=952>

Mule"-jen`ny (?) , n. See Mule , 4.

Muleteer <Xpage=952>

Mu`le*teer" (?) , n. [F. muletier , fr. mulet a mule, dim. fr. L. mulus .] One who drives mules.

Mulewort <Xpage=952>

Mule"wort` (?) , n. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Hemionitis .

Muley <Xpage=952>

Mu"ley (?) , n. (Sawmills) A stiff, long saw, guided at the ends but not stretched in a gate.

Muley axle (Railroad) , a car axle without collars at the outer ends of the journals.

Forney.

Muley <Xpage=952>

Mul"ey (?) , n. See Mulley .

Muliebrity <Xpage=952>

Mu`li*eb"ri*ty (?) , n. [L. muliebritas , fr. muliebris belonging to a woman, fr. mulier a woman.] 1. The state of being a woman or of possessing full womanly powers; womanhood; -- correlate of virility .

2. Hence: Effeminancy; softness.

Mulier <Xpage=952>

Mu"li*er (?) , n. [L., a woman.] 1. A woman.

2. (Law) (a) Lawful issue born in wedlock, in distinction from an elder brother born of the same parents before their marriage; a lawful son. (b) (Civ. Law) A woman; a wife; a mother.

Blount. Cowell.

Mulierly <Xpage=952>

Mu"li*er*ly , adv. In the manner or condition of a mulier; in wedlock; legitimately. [Obs.]

Mulierose <Xpage=952>

Mu"li*er*ose` (?) , a. [L. mulierosus .] Fond of woman. [R.]

Charles Reade.

Mulierosity <Xpage=952>

Mu`li*er*os"i*ty (?) , n. [L. mulierositas .] A fondness for women. [R.]

Dr. H. More.

Mulierty <Xpage=952>

Mu"li*er*ty (?) , n. (Law) Condition of being a mulier; position of one born in lawful wedlock.

Mulish <Xpage=952>

Mul"ish (?) , a. Like a mule; sullen; stubborn. -- Mul"ish*ly , adv. -- Mul"ish*ness , n.

Mull <Xpage=952>

Mull (?) , n. [Perh. contr. fr. mossul . See Muslin .] A thin, soft kind of muslin.

Mull <Xpage=952>

Mull , n. [Icel. m<?/li a snout, muzzle, projecting crag; or cf. Ir. & Gael. meall a heap of earth, a mound, a hill or eminence, W. moel . Cf. Mouth .] 1. A promontory; as, the Mull of Cantyre . [Scot.]

2. A snuffbox made of the small end of a horn.

Mull <Xpage=952>

Mull , n. [Prob. akin to mold . \'fb108. See Mold .] Dirt; rubbish. [Obs.]

Gower.

Mull <Xpage=952>

Mull , v. t. [OE. mullen . See 2d Muller .] To powder; to pulverize. [Prov. Eng.]

Mull <Xpage=952>

Mull , v. i. To work (over) mentally; to cogitate; to ruminate; -- usually with over ; as, to mull over a thought or a problem . [Colloq. U.S.]

Mull <Xpage=952>

Mull , n. An inferior kind of madder prepared from the smaller roots or the peelings and refuse of the larger.

Mull <Xpage=952>

Mull , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mulled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulling .] [From mulled , for mold , taken as a p.p.; OE. mold -ale funeral ale or banquet. See Mold soil.] 1. To heat, sweeten, and enrich with spices; as, to mull wine .

New cider, mulled with ginger warm. Gay.

2. To dispirit or deaden; to dull or blunt.

Shak.

Mulla <Xpage=952>

Mul"la (?) , n. Same as Mollah .

Mullagatawny <Xpage=952>

Mul`la*ga*taw"ny (?) , n. [Tamil milagu-tann\'c6r pepper water.] An East Indian curry soup.

Mullah <Xpage=952>

Mul"lah (?) , n. See Mollah .

Mullar <Xpage=952>

Mul"lar (?) , n. A die, cut in intaglio, for stamping an ornament in relief, as upon metal.

Mullein <Xpage=952>

Mul"lein (?) , n. [OE. moleyn , AS. molegn .] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Verbascum . They are tall herbs having coarse leaves, and large flowers in dense spikes. The common species, with densely woolly leaves, is Verbascum Thapsus .

Moth mullein . See under Moth . -- Mullein foxglove , an American herb ( Seymeria macrophylla ) with coarse leaves and yellow tubular flowers with a spreading border. -- Petty mullein , the cowslip. Dr. Prior .

Mullen <Xpage=952>

Mul"len (?) , n. (Bot.) See Mullein .

Muller <Xpage=952>

Mull"er (?) , n. 1. One who, or that which, mulls.

2. A vessel in which wine, etc., is mulled over a fire.

Muller <Xpage=952>

Mull"er , n. [OE. mullen to pulverize, bruise; cf. Icel. mylja ; prob. akin to E. mold soil. See Mold soil, and cf. Mull dirt.] A stone or thick lump of glass, or kind of pestle, flat at the bottom, used for grinding pigments or drugs, etc., upon a slab of similar material.

M\'81llerian <Xpage=952>

M\'81l*le"ri*an (?) , a. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Johannes M\'81ller .

M\'81llerian ducts (Anat.) , a pair of embryonic ducts which give rise to the genital passages in the female, but disappear in the male. -- M\'81llerian fibers (Anat.) , the sustentacular or connective-tissue fibers which form the framework of the retina.

Mullet <Xpage=952>

Mul"let (?) , n. [OE. molet , mulet , F. mulet , fr. L. mullus .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous fishes of the genus Mugil; -- called also gray mullets . They are found on the coasts of both continents, and are highly esteemed as food. Among the most valuable species are Mugil capito of Europe, and M. cephalus which occurs both on the European and American coasts.

2. (Zo\'94l.) Any species of the genus Mullus , or family Mullid\'91 ; called also red mullet , and surmullet , esp. the plain surmullet ( Mullus barbatus ), and the striped surmullet ( M. surmulletus ) of Southern Europe. The former is the mullet of the Romans. It is noted for the brilliancy of its colors. See Surmullet .

French mullet . See Ladyfish (a) .

Mullet <Xpage=952>

Mul"let , n. [F. molette .] (Her.) A star, usually five pointed and pierced; -- when used as a difference it indicates the third son.

Mullet <Xpage=952>

Mul"let , n. [Cf. F. molet a sort of pinchers.] Small pinchers for curling the hair. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Mulley, Moolley <Xpage=952>

Mul"ley (?) , Mool"ley , n. [CF. Gael. maolag a hornless cow, maol bald, hornless, blunt.] 1. A mulley or polled animal. [U. S.]

2. A cow. [Prov. Eng.; U.S., a child's word.]

Leave milking and dry up old mulley , thy cow. Tusser.

Mulley, Moolley <Xpage=952>

Mul"ley (?) , Mool"ley , a. Destitute of horns, although belonging to a species of animals most of which have horns; hornless; polled; as, mulley cattle; a mulley (or moolley ) cow. [U. S.] [Written also muley .]

Mulligatawny <Xpage=952>

Mul`li*ga*taw"ny (?) , n. See Mullagatawny .

Mulligrubs <Xpage=952>

Mul"li*grubs (?) , n. [Cf. Prov. E. mull to squeeze, pull about, mulling numb or dull.] 1. A griping of the intestines; colic. [Slang]

Whose dog lies sick of the mulligrubs ? Beau. & Fl.

2. Hence, sullenness; the sulks. [Slang]

Mullingong <Xpage=952>

Mul"lin*gong (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Duck mole , under Duck . [Written also mollingong .]

Mullion <Xpage=952>

Mul"lion (?) , n. [A corruption of munnion , F. moignon stump of an amputated limb, stump, OF. moing mutilated; cf. Armor. mo\'a4 , mou\'a4 , mank , monk , and also L. mancus maimed.] (Arch.) (a) A slender bar or pier which forms the division between the lights of windows, screens, etc. (b) An upright member of a framing. See Stile .

Mullion <Xpage=952>

Mul"lion , v. t. To furnish with mullions; to divide by mullions.

Mullock <Xpage=952>

Mul"lock (?) , n. [From Mull dirt: cf. Scot. mulloch , mulock , crumb. \'fb108.] Rubbish; refuse; dirt. [Obs.]

All this mullok [was] in a sieve ythrowe. Chaucer.

Mulliod <Xpage=952>