mule

mule
{{11}}mule (1) "offspring of donkey and horse," from O.E. mul, O.Fr. mul "mule, hinny" (12c., fem. mule), both from L. mulus (fem. mula) "a mule," probably from a pre-Latin Mediterranean language.
The mule combines the strength of the horse with the endurance and surefootedness of the ass, and is extensively bred for certain employments for which it is more suited than either; it is ordinarily incapable of procreation. With no good grounds, the mule is a proverbial type of obstinacy. [OED]
Properly, the offspring of a he-ass and a mare; that of a she-ass and a stallion is technically a hinny. Used allusively of hybrids and things of mixed nature. As a type of spinning machine, attested from 1797 (so called because a hybrid of distinct warp and woof machines). Meaning "obstinate, stupid, or stubborn person" is from 1470s; that of "narcotics smuggler or courier" first attested 1935.
{{12}}mule (2) "loose slipper," 1560s, from M.Fr. mule, from L. mulleus calceus "red high-soled shoe," worn by Roman patricians, from mullus "red" (see MULLET (Cf. mullet) (1)). Related: Mules.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • mule — mule …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Mule — Conservation status Domesticated Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • mule — 1. (mu l ) s. f. 1°   Sorte de pantoufle pour les hommes, et de chaussure sans quartier pour les femmes. •   Ses mules d un côté, de l autre son toquet, RÉGNIER Sat. XI. •   Elle avait perdu une de ses mules de chambre, SÉV. 20. •   Elle paraît …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Mule — (m[=u]l), n. [F., a she mule, L. mula, fem. of mulus; cf. Gr. my klos, mychlo s. Cf. AS. m[=u]l, fr. L. mulus. Cf. {Mulatto}.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare. Sometimes the term is applied to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mule — (engl. „Maultier“) bezeichnet: Mule (Software), eine quelloffene Enterprise Service Bus Plattform MULE, ein Computerspiel eine Abkürzung für den Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment Roboter der US Armee die Kurzform der Spinnmaschine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • müle — Müle. s. f. Femelle de la mesme espece que le mulet. Jolie mule. mule noire. mule fantasque, quinteuse, opiniastre, ombrageuse. les Medecins vont ordinairement sur des mules. il a un attelage de mules à son carrosse. On dit, d Une personne… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • MULE — (Heb. פֶּרֶד), the offspring of a he ass and a mare. Although a Jew is prohibited from producing such hybrids, their use is permitted (Tosef., Kil. 5:6 cites an individual view prohibiting it). Since there were different strains of horses and… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • mule — Mule, f. penac. Mula. Une mule ou mulet engendré d un cheval et d une asnesse, Hinnus hinni. Mule ombrageuse, Mula suspiciosa. Mules traversaines qui viennent aux chevaux et autres bestes chevalines, Perniones transuersi. Franche mule, est en un… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • Mule — Mule, que significa mula en inglés, puede hacer referencia a: Mule, un sistema software usado para gestionar comunicaciones entre sistema heterogéneos. M.U.L.E., un videojuego de estrategia económica publicado en 1983. The Mule, canción del grupo …   Wikipedia Español

  • Mule — mule. (Del lat. mugil, ĭlis). m. Cantb. mújol. * * * M.U.L.E: juego de estrategia económica participativo de 1 a 4 jugadores. MULE es un juego con muy pocos turnos, únicamente doce, que ocurren relativamente rápido, pero que introducen muy rápida …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • mule — [mju:l] n [Sense: 1 2; Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: mul, from Latin mulus] [Sense: 3; Date: 1500 1600; : French; Origin: Latin mulleus type of red shoe worn by certain officials] 1.) an animal that has a ↑donkey and a horse as parents → …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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