musk-ox 
3910 
muss 
head then turning downward for most of their length, and musky (mus'ki), a. [< musk + -y 1 .] Having mUSOmania (mu-zo-ma'ni-a), j . [< Gr. 
J_ _. ,, ,] ..rt *1,0 . i *S . ..11 J.1- - _ ,] . ..*.!.. .iion /cmrt 4ll*jolf>\ -i- lirnltrt TnaHllOCQ IT 
finally recurved. The pelage is very long and tine, the 
hairs hanging like those of a merino eheep, and lias occa- 
sionally been woven into a fine soft fabric. The musk-ox 
was formerly an animal of circumpolar distribution, but is 
now found only in arctic America, where it lives in herds 
of a dozen or more. It is very fleet, active, and hardy, 
and sometimes performs extensive migrations. The beef 
is eaten, though the animal smells strongly of musk. Also 
mSetrlmusk'par), . A fragrant kind of musky-mole (m US 'ki- m ol), Same as musk- 
the character, especially the odor, "of musk; muse (see music), + uavia, madness. Ct.musi- 
fragrant like musk. comania."] Same as musicomania. 
West winds, with musky wing, DlUSOnt, n. [ME., < OF. moison, moesonmueson, 
muson, mutson, measure, < u. mentno(n-) t a mea- 
suring, < meteri, pp. niensus, measure : see mete^, 
About the cedarn alleys fling 
Nai-d and cassia's balmy smells. 
Milton, Comus, 1. 989. 
nmskyllet, . 
An obsolete form of mussel. 
measure, and cf. dimension.} A measure. 
Lo ! logyk I lered hire and al the lawe after, 
And alle musons in musyk I made hire to knowe. 
Piers Plomnan (A), xi. 128. 
v / i, 1 A small vel mUSiet, All ODSOieie loriii ui mivic. iiusons, measures. ... The meaning of "measures" is 
__ , (.mi u- Muslim (mus'lim) and a. Same as Moslem, the time and rhythm of mensurable music, as opposed to 
low-flowered plant, Mtmulus moscliatus, cm i- "*"",? (mnr'Hn) n and a [Formerly also plain chant, which was immensurable. . . . Since muson 
vated for its odor. 2. The musk heron's-bill, mUSlin (muz 1m), n. ana a. J measure, it was easily extended to signify measure- 
*vX/wJta antflintum muslen (unAmussolm, < It.); = G. Sw. Dan. - men t or dimension. Piers Plomnan, II. 153 (notes refer- 
i" i -i A fi-aornTit IHml seW. < F. mousseline = Sp. muselina, < It. mw- [ring to the above passage), 
(mi m;, . . ;, m ,, a ii,, nr-nn arli.. < mtuuiola ("E. formerly ,, . , _ -, .., r1VTT . ,, , 
Musophaga (mu-sof a-ga), n. [NL., < Musa + 
Gr. Qayeiv, eat.] The typical genus of Muso- 
pkagida', formerly coextensive with the family, 
nac Mosul, Muzol,Mau ? ol, .AT.Maustl, ,a city m g^*^,^ t sueh species as j/. efcta^ 
Mesopotamia on the Tigris, whence the fabric f , bluish-black color and 
first came. Cf. cahco, damask, nankeen, also 
muskquasht, " An obsolete form of musquash. 
G. Cuvier. 
muskrat (musk'rat), n. 1 . A large murine ro- 
dent quadruped, Fiber zibethicus, of the family 
Mtiridw and subfamily Arvicolince: so called 
mosal), muslin, < ML. Mossula, G. Mossul, E. 
Moussul, Mosul, etc., Turk. Mossul, Mossil,< Sy- 
Jfertfa and subfamily Arvicolinte : so called ' 2- ^^^U^T^iie^Srte dor f' s hed with a frontal shield or casque, 
from its musky odor. It is of about the sizeof a small na e ? from Eastern cities and ^eambnc, dor- Musophagidae (mu-so-f aj'i-de), . pi. [NL., < 
rabbit, of a very, stout thick-set form and dark-brown c* :, lawn , Irom ^uropean ci les.J 1 n. i. M j + 4a(l ^ A family of cuculine pi- 
rabbit, of a very stout thick-set form and dark-brown 
color grayish underneath, with small eyes and ears, large 
hind feet with webbed toes, and long naked scaly tail, 
compressed in the horizontal plane so as to present an up- 
- -, - . 
Cotton cloth of different kinds finely made and 
carian birds, most nearly related to the cuckoos, 
.- in * i iU t* canail Ulruss IUUBI Ilcitri V rciaiev* iv mo UUIMWVD, 
finished for wearmg-appare , the term being a i so 'some resemblance to gallinaceous 
,,enfl iraiM/Mialv at, fliffprpiit. timps and Tuaces. , & . , 
used variously at different times and places, 
(a) A very fine and soft uncolored cloth made in India ; also, 
any imitation of it made in Europe. The India muslin is 
known by different names, according to its place of manu- 
facture and its fineness and beauty. See mullT. 
She was dressed in white muslin very much puffed and 
frilled, but a trifle the worse for wear. 
H. James, Jr., Pass. Pilgrim, p. 184. 
birds; the plantain-eaters and touracous. The 
feet are zygodactylous, with homalogonatous and desmo. 
pelmous musculation. The plumage is aftershafted, with 
tufted elseodochon, and there are no caeca. The family is 
confined to continental Africa. The leading genera are 
Musophaga, Turacus (or Corythaix), and Schizorhis. There 
are about 15 species. The family formerly included the 
colics (Coliidce). 
ft) A material somewhat stouter than India muslin, used Musophaginae (mu"so-fa-ji'ne), n. pi. [NL., < 
for women's dresses, plain or printed with colored _pat- Musophaga + -ina;.~]' the only subfamily of 
Musophagida'. In a former acceptation of the family 
it was divided into two subfamilies, Musophayinai and 
Coliince. 
musophagine (mu-sof'a-jin), . Having the 
characters of Musophaga ; pertaining to the Mu- 
Mtiskrat (Fiber xibethicus}. 
per and an under edge, and two broad sides. In the char- 
acter of the fur, the scaly tail, and aquatic habits, the musk- 
rat resembles the beaver, and is sometimes called tmuk- 
bcaver; but its actual relationships are with the voles and 
lemmings. It is one of the commonest quadrupeds of 
North America, almost universally distributed throughout 
that continent, living in lakes, rivers, and pools, either in 
underground burrows in the banks, or in nouses made of 
reeds, rushes, and grasses, as large as haycocks and of sim- 
ilar shape. The fur is of commercial value, and the ani- 
mal is much hunted. Also called musquash and ondatra. 
2. An insectivorous animal of musky odor lik- 
ened to a rat, such as the European desman, 
Mygale pyrenaica, and the Indian musk-shrew 
or rat-tailed shrew, Sorex indicus or Crocidura 
myositra, also called Indian muskrat and mon- 
joitrou. 3. A viverrine quadruped, the South 
African genet, Genetta felina Indian muslcrat. 
Same as monjourou, 
musk-root (musk'rot), n. 1. The root of Fe- 
rula Sumbul, containing a strong odorous prin- 
ciple resembling that of musk. It is employed 
in medicine as a stimulating tonic and anti- 
spasmodic. Also called sambul or sumbul. 2. 
Adoxa Moschatellina. See Adoxa. 
musk-rose (musk'roz), n. A species of rose, 
so called from its fragrance. 
I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, . . . 
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, 
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine. 
Shak., M. N. D., ii. 1. 252. 
soj>Jianidai or Musopliagirxe. 
in Ami, in the presidency of Madras, 
muslin, a muslin in which a thick hair cord is intro- 
duced into the fabric. Dacca muslin, a very thin vari- 
ety of India muslin made at Dacca in Bengal. The mod- 
ern Dacca muslin is used chiefly for curtains ; it Is two 
yards wide when figured, and narrower when plain. It 
was formerly used in Europe for women's dresses and sim- 
ilar purposes. Darned muslin, thin and fine muslin 
terns, or having a slight dotted pattern woven in the stuff. 
Also jaconet and organdie, according to its fineness, (c) 
In some parts of the United States, cotton cloth used for 
shirts, other articles of wearing-apparel, bedding, etc. 
2. One of several different moths : a collectors' 
name, (n) A bombycid moth, as the round-winged 
muslin, Jfudaria senex. The pale muslin is N. mundana. , 
(b) An arctiid moth, as Arctia mendica. Also called mus- MuSOphyllum (mu-so-fil'um). n. [NL. (Gop- 
lin-moth.- Arnl muslin, an extremely fine muslin made pert; 1854 ^ < M usa -f- Gr. 0&W, leaf.] A ge- 
1881 nus of fossil plants based on leaf-impressions 
having nearly the same nervation as those of 
the genus Musa, to which they are assumed to be 
closely related. Nine species have been described 
from the Upper Cretaceous of southern France, the Eocene 
of France, Java, and Colorado, and the Miocene of Italy, 
Bohemia, and Hesse. 
musquash (mus'kwosh), . [Formerly also 
miiskquash, mussacus; Amer. Ind.] Same as 
muskrat, 1. 
musquash-root (mus'kwosh-rot), n. Same as 
ground, of flowers or"other patterns cut out of very fine beaver-poison. 
muslin, the finished work having a resemblance to some musquett, " See mtiskefl, musket*. 
kinds of lace.- Swiss muslin, a thin sheer muslin striped m usauetOOnt, . See musketoon. 
or figured in the loom, made in Switzerland. miionnitn i SPA mnsmiito 
II. . Made of muslin: as, a muslin dress. lto - "' 
The ladies came down in cool muslin dresses, and added 
the needed grace to the picture, 
C. D. Warner, Their Pilgrimage, p. 23. 
muslin-de-laine (muz'lin-de-lan'), n. See 
mousseline-de-laine. 
muslined (muz'lind), a. [< muslin + -en^.~] 
.slin. 
tate tamboured muslin. (6) Muslin with figures printed 
in color on it. India muslin. See def. 1 (a). Linen 
Draped or clothed with musl ; 
The airy rustling of \ight-muslined ladies. 
Howells, Their Wedding Journey. 
muslinet (muz-li-nef), . [< muslin + -et.~\ 
A fine cotton cloth, stouter than muslin. Some 
varieties of it are figured in the loom, others are made 
with satin finish, stripes, etc. |Eng. trade-name. ] 
musk-seed (musk'sed)_, See amber-seed. mus l in . g l ass (rau z'liu- g las), n. A kind of blown 
musk-Sheep (musk'shep ) . Same as mmk-ox Iasswa 8 re ^ a de f ora ^ d surf ace in iniita- 
musk-shrew (musk'shro) . The rat-tailed ^i on of muslin. Also mousseline-glass. 
ST^SE SS&KURV muslin-kale (muz'lin-kal), . *[< muslin 
odor. Also called muskrat. 
musk-thistle (musk'this'l), w. A plant, Car- 
duus nutans, of the north-temperate part of the 
Old World, locally naturalized in Pennsylvania. 
It has a winged stem, from 1 to 3 feet high, and a solitary 
nodding head of crimson-purple flowers. 
musk-tortoise (musk'tor'tis), . A tortoise musnud ( mus 'nud),, [< Hind, masnad, a cush- 
of the family Cmostermda-, having a strong ion , seat, throne, <Ar. sarf, a cushion for the 
musky scent. Six kinds inhabit the fresh waters of - 
the United States, as Aromochelys odoratus, which has so 
strong an odor that it is commonly called stinkpot. 
musk-tree (musk'tre), n. A composite tree, 
Olearia (Eurybia) art/ophylla, of Australia and 
Tasmania, with musk-scented leaves. It grows 
25 or 30 feet high, and affords a white, close-grained wood, 
used for cabinet-work, implements, etc. 
musk-turtle (musk'ter'tl), n. Same as mtisl-- 
tion of muslin. 
muslin-kale (muz'lin-kal), n. [< muslin + 
kale; prob. so called from its thinness or want 
of any rich ingredient.] Broth composed simply 
of water, shelled barley, and greens. [Scotch.] 
I'll sit down o'er my scanty meal, 
Be 't water-brose or muslin-kail. 
Burns, To James Smith, 
inusmon, n. See nmsimon. 
ion, seat, throne, < Ar. 
back, < sanada, lean against.] In India, a raised 
seat, overspread with carpets or embroidered 
cloth and furnished with pillows for the back 
and elbow. This forms the seat of honor, as in the 
zenana, where it is the seat of the lady of the house, and 
privileged visitors are invited to share it as a mark of re- 
spect and favor. It is also the ceremonial seat or throne 
of a rajah. Also masnad. 
tortoise. 
musk-weasel (musk'we'zl), . Any viverrine 
carnivorous quadruped of the family Viverrida;. 
muskwood (musk'wud), n. Either of the two 
small trees Guarea trichilioides and Trichilia 
moschata, natives of tropical America, the lat- 
ter confined to Jamaica. 
They spread fresh carpets, and prepared the royal 
ud, covering it with a magnificent shawl 
musquito, See mosquito. 
musrol, musrole (muz'rol), n. [Formerly also 
musroll; < F. muserolle (= Sp. muserola = It. 
museruola), OF. muse, nose: see muzzle."] The 
nose-band of a horse's bridle. 
And setteth him [a horse] on with a Switch and holdeth 
him in with a Musrol. Comenius, Visible World, p. 122. 
muss 1 (mus), n. [< OF. mousche, the play called 
muss, lit. a fly, F. mouche, a fly, < L. musca, a fly: 
see Musca. The word muss, prop. *mush, of 
this origin, seems to have been confused with 
another muss, a var. of mess?, itself a var. of 
mesh 2 , and ult. of mash 1 , a mixture, of which 
m/i 1 is a third variant. The words are mainly 
dial, or colloq., and, in the absence of early 
quotations, cannot be definitely separated.] If. 
A scramble, as for small objects thrown down 
to be taken by those who can seize them. 
Of late, when I cry'd " Ho ! " 
Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth, 
And cry " Your will." Shak., A. and C., iii. 13. 91. 
Ods so ! a muss, a muss, a muss, a muss '. [Falls a scram- 
bling forthe pears.) B. Jonson, Bartholomew Fair, iv. 1. 
A musse being made amongst the poorer sort in hell of 
the sweet-meat scraps left after the banquet. 
Dekker, Bankrout's Banquet. 
2f. That which is to be scrambled for. 
They '11 throw down gold in musta. 
Middlfton, Spanish Gypsy, U. 1. 
3. A state of confusion ; disorder: as, the things 
are all in a mugs. [Colloq., U. S.] 4. An in- 
discriminate fight; a squabble; a row. [Slang, 
U.S.] 
muss 1 (mus), v. t. [< muss 1 , n.] 1. To put into 
a state of disorder; rumple; tumble: as, to 
muss one's hair. [U.S.] 2. To smear; mess. 
Ilajji Baba of Ispahan, p. 142. (%ule and Burncll.) muss'-'t (mus), n. [A var. of mouse (ME. mus), 
Musnud-carpet, piece of stuff about two yards square 
(sometimes carpeting, but frequently brocade, embroi- 
dered silk, or thelike), lined and wadded laid on the floor to 
receive the musnud. Persons conversing with the occu- 
pants of the musnud, if inferior in rank, sit on the carpet- 
on its extreme edge if they wish to express humility. 
or, more prob., directly < L. mus, a mouse, used 
as a term of endearment : see mouse."] A mouse : 
used as a term of endearment. 
What ail yon, sweetheart? Are you not well? Speak, 
good muss. E. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, ii. 1. 
