Chapter 1014

Muse"less , a. Unregardful of the Muses; disregarding the power of poetry; unpoetical.

Milton.

Muser <Xpage=956>

Mus"er (?) , n. One who muses.

Muset <Xpage=956>

Mu"set (?) , n. [OF. mussette , dim. of musse , muce , a hiding place, fr. F. musser , OF. mucier , muchier , to conceal, hide. Cf. Micher .] A small hole or gap through which a wild animal passes; a muse.

Shak.

Musette <Xpage=956>

Mu*sette" (?) , n. [F., dim. of OF. muse .] 1. A small bagpipe formerly in use, having a soft and sweet tone.

2. An air adapted to this instrument; also, a kind of rustic dance.

Museum <Xpage=956>

Mu*se"um (?) , n. [L., a temple of the Muses, hence, a place of study, fr. Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ a Muse.] A repository or a collection of natural, scientific, or literary curiosities, or of works of art.

Museum beetle , Museum pest . (Zo\'94l.) See Anthrenus .

Mush <Xpage=956>

Mush (?) , n. [Cf. Gael. mus , muss , pap, porridge, any thick preparation of fruit, OHG. muos ; akin to AS. & OS. m\'d3s food, and prob, to E. meat . See Meat .] Meal (esp. Indian meal) boiled in water; hasty pudding; supawn. [U.S.]

Mush <Xpage=956>

Mush , v. t. [Cf. F. moucheter to cut with small cuts.] To notch, cut, or indent, as cloth, with a stamp.

Mushroom <Xpage=956>

Mush"room (?) , n. [OE. muscheron , OF. mouscheron , F. mousseron ; perhaps fr. mousse moss, of German origin. See Moss .] 1. (Bot.) (a) An edible fungus ( Agaricus campestris ), having a white stalk which bears a convex or oven flattish expanded portion called the pileus . This is whitish and silky or somewhat scaly above, and bears on the under side radiating gills which are at first flesh-colored, but gradually become brown. The plant grows in rich pastures and is proverbial for rapidity of growth and shortness of duration. It has a pleasant smell, and is largely used as food. It is also cultivated from spawn. (b) Any large fungus, especially one of the genus Agaricus ; a toadstool. Several species are edible; but many are very poisonous. <-- (b) any fungus developing a visible fruiting body with a stem and cap, usu. of the basidiomycetes. -- a term used most often for edible varieties -->

2. One who rises suddenly from a low condition in life; an upstart.

Bacon.

Mushroom <Xpage=956>

Mush"room , a. 1. Of or pertaining to mushrooms; as, mushroom catchup .

2. Resembling mushrooms in rapidity of growth and shortness of duration; short-lived; ephemerial; as, mushroom cities .

Mushroom anchor , an anchor shaped like a mushroom, capable of grasping the ground in whatever way it falls. -- Mushroom coral (Zo\'94l.) , any coral of the genus Fungia. See Fungia . -- Mushroom spawn (Bot.) , the mycelium, or primary filamentous growth, of the mushroom; also, cakes of earth and manure containing this growth, which are used for propagation of the mushroom. <-- mushroom cloud, a cloud of smoke rising and then spreading laterally to take on the shape of a mushroom -- caused by large fires or explosions, esp. nuclear explosions -->

<-- mushroom v. to grow or expand rapidly. mushroom into -- to grow so much and so rapidly as to change qualitatively -->

Mushroom-headed <Xpage=956>

Mush"room-head`ed (?) , a. (Bot.) Having a cylindrical body with a convex head of larger diameter; having a head like that of a mushroom.

Mushy <Xpage=956>

Mush"y (?) , a. Soft like mush; figuratively, good-naturedly weak and effusive; weakly sentimental.

She 's not mushy , but her heart is tender. G. Eliot.

Music <Xpage=956>

Mu"sic (?) , n. [F. musique , fr. L. musica , Gr. <?/ (sc. <?/), any art over which the Muses presided, especially music, lyric poetry set and sung to music, fr. <?/ belonging to Muses or fine arts, fr. <?/ Muse.] 1. The science and the art of tones, or musical sounds, i . e ., sounds of higher or lower pitch, begotten of uniform and synchronous vibrations, as of a string at various degrees of tension; the science of harmonical tones which treats of the principles of harmony, or the properties, dependences, and relations of tones to each other; the art of combining tones in a manner to please the ear.

&hand; Not all sounds are tones . Sounds may be unmusical and yet please the ear. Music deals with tones , and with no other sounds. See Tone .

2. (a) Melody; a rhythmical and otherwise agreeable succession of tones. (b) Harmony; an accordant combination of simultaneous tones.

3. The written and printed notation of a musical composition; the score.

4. Love of music; capacity of enjoying music.

The man that hath ni music in himself Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. Shak.

5. (Zo\'94l.) A more or less musical sound made by many of the lower animals. See Stridulation .

Magic music , a game in which a person is guided in finding a hidden article, or in doing a specific art required, by music which is made more loud or rapid as he approaches success, and slower as he recedes. Tennyson .<-- like hot and cold --> -- Music box . See Musical box , under Musical . -- Music hall , a place for public musical entertainments. -- Music loft , a gallery for musicians, as in a dancing room or a church. -- Music of the spheres , the harmony supposed to be produced by the accordant movement of the celestial spheres. -- Music paper , paper ruled with the musical staff, for the use of composers and copyists. -- Music pen , a pen for ruling at one time the five lines of the musical staff. -- Music shell (Zo\'94l.) , a handsomely colored marine gastropod shell ( Voluta musica ) found in the East Indies; -- so called because the color markings often resemble printed music. Sometimes applied to other shells similarly marked. -- To face the music , to meet any disagreeable necessity without flinching. [Colloq. or Slang] <-- esp. reprimand for an error or misdeed -->

Musical <Xpage=956>

Mu"sic*al (?) , a. [Cf. F. musical .] Of or pertaining to music; having the qualities of music; or the power of producing music; devoted to music; melodious; harmonious; as, musical proportion; a musical voice; musical instruments; a musical sentence; musical persons.

Musical , &or; Music , box , a box or case containing apparatus moved by clockwork so as to play certain tunes automatically. -- Musical fish (Zo\'94l.) , any fish which utters sounds under water, as the drumfish, grunt, gizzard shad, etc. -- Musical glasses , glass goblets or bowls so tuned and arranged that when struck, or rubbed, they produce musical notes. CF. Harmonica , 1.

Musical <Xpage=956>

Mu"sic*al , n. 1. Music. [Obs.]

To fetch home May with their musical . Spenser.

2. A social entertainment of which music is the leading feature; a musical party. [Colloq.]

<-- 3. A drama in which music and song are prominent features = musical drama, musical play -->

Musicale <Xpage=956>

Mu`si`cale" (?) , n. [F. Cf. Soir\'82e musicale .] A social musical party. [Colloq.]

Musically <Xpage=956>

Mu"sic*al*ly (?) , adv. In a musical manner.

Musicalness <Xpage=956>

Mu"sic*al*ness , n. The quality of being musical.

Musician <Xpage=956>

Mu*si"cian (?) , n. [F. musicien .] One skilled in the art or science of music; esp., a skilled singer, or performer on a musical instrument.

Musicomania <Xpage=956>

Mu`si*co*ma"ni*a (?) , n. [ Music + mania : cf. F. musicomanie .] (Med.) A kind of monomania in which the passion for music becomes so strong as to derange the intellectual faculties.

Dunglison.

Musimon <Xpage=956>

Mus"i*mon (?) , n. [See Musmon .] (Zo\'94l.) See Mouflon .

Musingly <Xpage=956>

Mus"ing*ly (?) , adv. In a musing manner.

Musit <Xpage=956>

Mu"sit (?) , n. See Muset .

Musk <Xpage=956>

Musk (?) , n. [F. musc , L. muscus , Per. musk , fr. Skr. mushka testicle, orig., a little mouse. See Mouse , and cd. Abelmosk , Muscadel , Muscovy duck , Nutmeg .] 1. A substance of a reddish brown color, and when fresh of the consistence of honey, obtained from a bag being behind the navel of the male musk deer. It has a slightly bitter taste, but is specially remarkable for its powerful and enduring odor. It is used in medicine as a stimulant antispasmodic. The term is also applied to secretions of various other animals, having a similar odor.

2. (Zo\'94l.) The musk deer. See Musk deer (below).

3. The perfume emitted by musk, or any perfume somewhat similar.

4. (Bot.) (a) The musk plant ( Mimulus moschatus ). (b) A plant of the genus Erodium ( E. moschatum ); -- called also musky heron's-bill . (c) A plant of the genus Muscari ; grape hyacinth.

Musk beaver (Zo\'94l.) , muskrat (1). -- Musk beetle (Zo\'94l.) , a European longicorn beetle ( Aromia moschata ), having an agreeable odor resembling that of attar of roses. -- Musk cat . See Bondar . -- Musk cattle (Zo\'94l.) , musk oxen. See Musk ox (below). -- Musk deer (Zo\'94l.) , a small hornless deer ( Moschus moschiferus ), which inhabits the elevated parts of Central Asia. The upper canine teeth of the male are developed into sharp tusks, curved downward. The male has scent bags on the belly, from which the musk of commerce is derived. The deer is yellow or red-brown above, whitish below. The pygmy musk deer are chevrotains, as the kanchil and napu. -- Musk duck . (Zo\'94l.) (a) The Muscovy duck . (b) An Australian duck ( Biziura lobata ). -- Musk lorikeet (Zo\'94l.) , the Pacific lorikeet ( Glossopsitta australis ) of Australia. -- Musk mallow (Bot.) , a name of two malvaceous plants : (a) A species of mallow ( Malva moschata ), the foliage of which has a faint musky smell . (b) An Asiatic shrub. See Abelmosk . -- Musk orchis (Bot.) , a European plant of the Orchis family ( Herminium Minorchis ); -- so called from its peculiar scent. -- Musk ox (Zo\'94l.) , an Arctic hollow-horned ruminant ( Ovibos moschatus ), now existing only in America, but found fossil in Europe and Asia. It is covered with a thick coat of fine yellowish wool, and with long dark hair, which is abundant and shaggy on the neck and shoulders. The full-grown male weighs over four hundred pounds. -- Musk parakeet . (Zo\'94l.) Same as Musk lorikeet (above). -- Musk pear (Bot.) , a fragrant kind of pear much resembling the Seckel pear. -- Musk plant (Bot.) , the Mimulus moschatus , a plant found in Western North America, often cultivated, and having a strong musky odor. -- Musk root (Bot.) , the name of several roots with a strong odor, as that of the nard ( Nardostachys Jatamansi ) and of a species of Angelica . -- Musk rose (Bot.) , a species of rose ( Rosa moschata ), having peculiarly fragrant white blossoms. -- Musk seed (Bot.) , the seed of a plant of the Mallow family ( Hibiscus moschatus ), used in perfumery and in flavoring. See Abelmosk . -- Musk sheep (Zo\'94l.) , the musk ox. -- Musk shrew (Zo\'94l.) , a shrew ( Sorex murinus ), found in India. It has a powerful odor of musk. Called also sondeli , and mondjourou . -- Musk thistle (Bot.) , a species of thistle ( Carduus nutans ), having fine large flowers, and leaves smelling strongly of musk. -- Musk tortoise , Musk turtle (Zo\'94l.) , a small American fresh-water tortoise ( Armochelys, &or; Ozotheca, odorata ), which has a distinct odor of musk; -- called also stinkpot .

<page="957"> Page 957

Musk <Xpage=957>

Musk (?) , v. t. To perfume with musk.

Muskadel <Xpage=957>

Mus"ka*del` (?) , n. See Muscadel .

Muskat <Xpage=957>

Mus"kat (?) , n. See Muscat .

Muskellunge <Xpage=957>

Mus"kel*lunge (?) , n. [From the Amer. Indian name.] (Zo\'94l.) A large American pike ( Esox nobilitor ) found in the Great Lakes, and other Northern lakes, and in the St. Lawrence River. It is valued as a food fish. [Written also maskallonge , maskinonge , muskallonge , muskellonge , and muskelunjeh .]

Musket <Xpage=957>

Mus"ket (?) , n. [F. mousquet , It. moschetto , formerly, a kind of hawk; cf. OF. mousket , moschet , a kind of hawk falcon, F. mouchet , prop., a little fly (the hawk prob. being named from its size), fr. L. musca a fly. Cf. Mosquito .] [Sometimes written also musquet .] 1. (Zo\'94l.) The male of the sparrow hawk.

2. A species of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army. It was originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the percussion lock) were successively substituted. This arm has been generally superseded by the rifle. <-- completely superseded -->

Musketeer <Xpage=957>

Mus`ket*eer" (?) , n. [F. mousquetaire ; cf. It. moschettiere .] A soldier armed with a musket.

Musketo <Xpage=957>

Mus*ke"to (?) , n. See Mosquito .

Musketoon <Xpage=957>

Mus`ket*oon" (?) , n. [F. mousqueton ; cf. It. moschettone .] 1. A short musket.

2. One who is armed with such a musket.

Musketry <Xpage=957>

Mus"ket*ry (?) , n. [F. mousqueterie ; cf. It. moschetteria .] 1. Muskets, collectively.

2. The fire of muskets.

Motley.

Muskiness <Xpage=957>

Musk"i*ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being musky; the scent of musk.

Muskmelon <Xpage=957>

Musk"mel`on (?) , n. [ Musk + melon .] (Bot.) The fruit of a cucubritaceous plant ( Cicumis Melo ), having a peculiar aromatic flavor, and cultivated in many varieties, the principal sorts being the cantaloupe, of oval form and yellowish flesh, and the smaller nutmeg melon with greenish flesh. See Illust . of Melon .

Muskogees <Xpage=957>

Mus*ko"gees (?) , n. pl. ; sing. Muskogee (<?/) . (Ethnol.) A powerful tribe of North American Indians that formerly occupied the region of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. They constituted a large part of the Creek confederacy. [Written also Muscogees .]

Muskrat <Xpage=957>

Musk"rat` (?) , n. 1. (Zo\'94l.) A North American aquatic fur-bearing rodent ( Fiber zibethicus ). It resembles a rat in color and having a long scaly tail, but the tail is compressed, the bind feet are webbed, and the ears are concealed in the fur. It has scent glands which secrete a substance having a strong odor of musk. Called also musquash , musk beaver , and ondatra . <-- and sometimes water rat -->

2. (Zo\'94l.) The musk shrew.

3. (Zo\'94l.) The desman.

Muskwood <Xpage=957>

Musk"wood` (?) , n. [So called from its fragrance.] (Bot.) (a) The wood of a West Indian tree of the Mahogany family ( Moschoxylum Swartzii ). (b) The wood of an Australian tree ( Eurybia argophylla ).

Musky <Xpage=957>

Musk"y (?) , a. Having an odor of musk, or somewhat the like.

Milton.

Muslim <Xpage=957>

Mus"lim (?) , n. See Moslem .

Muslin <Xpage=957>

Mus"lin (?) , n. [F. mousseline ; cf. It. mussolino , mussolo , Sp. muselina ; all from Mussoul a city of Mesopotamia, Ar. Mausil , Syr. Mauzol , Muzol , Mosul , where it was first manufactured. Cf. Mull a kind of cloth.] A thin cotton, white, dyed, or printed. The name is also applied to coarser and heavier cotton goods; as, shirting and sheeting muslins .

Muslin cambric . See Cambric . -- Muslin delaine , a light woolen fabric for women's dresses. See Delaine . [Written also mousseline de laine .]

Muslinet <Xpage=957>

Mus`lin*et" (?) , n. [F. mousselinette .] A sort of coarse or light cotton cloth.

Musmon <Xpage=957>

Mus"mon (?) , n. [L. musmo , musimo , a Sardinian animal; cf. Gr. <?/.] (Zo\'94l.) See Mouflon .

Musomania <Xpage=957>

Mu`so*ma"ni*a (?) , n. See Musicomania .

Musquash <Xpage=957>

Mus"quash (?) , n. [American Indian name.] (Zo\'94l.) See Muskrat .

Musquash root (Bot.) , an umbelliferous plant ( Cicuta maculata ), having a poisonous root. See Water hemlock .

Musquaw <Xpage=957>

Mus"quaw (?) , n. [American Indian name.] (Zo\'94l.) The American black bear. See Bear .

Musquet <Xpage=957>

Mus"quet (?) , n. See Musket .

Musquito <Xpage=957>

Mus*qui"to (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Mosquito .

Musrole, Musrol <Xpage=957>

Mus"role , Mus"rol (?) , n. [F. muserolle , fr. muserau a muzzle, OF. musel . See Muzzle .] The nose band of a horse's bridle.

Muss <Xpage=957>

Muss (?) , n. [Cf. OF. mousche a fly, also, the play called muss , fr. L. musca a fly.] A scramble, as when small objects are thrown down, to be taken by those who can seize them; a confused struggle.

Shak.

Muss <Xpage=957>

Muss , n. A state of confusion or disorder; -- prob. variant of mess , but influenced by muss , a scramble. [Colloq. U.S.]

Muss <Xpage=957>

Muss , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mussed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mussing .] To disarrange, as clothing; to rumple. [Colloq. U.S.] <-- often used with up = muss up -->

Muss <Xpage=957>

Muss , n. [Cf. OE. mus a mouse. See Mouse .] A term of endearment. [Obs.] See Mouse .

B. Jonson.

Mussel <Xpage=957>

Mus"sel (?) , n. [See Muscle , 3.] 1. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of many species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Mytilus , and related genera, of the family Mytid\'91 . The common mussel ( Mytilus edulis ; see Illust . under Byssus ), and the larger, or horse, mussel ( Modiola modiolus ), inhabiting the shores both of Europe and America, are edible. The former is extensively used as food in Europe.

2. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of Unio , and related fresh-water genera; -- called also river mussel . See Naiad , and Unio .