dormouse

dormouse
dormouse early 15c., possibly from Anglo-Fr. *dormouse "tending to be dormant" (from stem of dormir "to sleep," see DORMER (Cf. dormer)), with the second element mistaken for mouse; or perhaps it is from a M.E. dialectal compound of mouse and M.Fr. dormir. The rodent is inactive in winter. Fr. dormeuse, fem. of dormeur "sleeper" is attested only from 17c.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Dormouse — Dor mouse, n.; pl. {Dormice}. [Perh. fr. F. dormir to sleep (Prov. E. dorm to doze) + E. mouse; or perh. changed fr. F. dormeuse, fem., a sleeper, though not found in the sense of a dormouse.] (Zo[ o]l.) A small European rodent of the genus… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dormouse — ► NOUN (pl. dormice) ▪ an agile mouse like rodent with a bushy tail. ORIGIN of unknown origin, but associated with Latin dormire to sleep …   English terms dictionary

  • dormouse — [dôr′mous΄] n. pl. dormice [dôr′mīs΄] [ME dormous ? altered by folk etym. (after mous, MOUSE) < OFr dormeuse, sleepy, sluggish < dormir: see DORMANT] any of a family (Gliridae) of small, furry tailed, mostly tree dwelling Old World rodents …   English World dictionary

  • Dormouse — For Lewis Carroll s fictional character, see Dormouse (Alice s Adventures in Wonderland). Dormice Temporal range: Early Eocene–Recent …   Wikipedia

  • dormouse — /dawr mows /, n., pl. dormice / muys /. any small, furry tailed, Old World rodent of the family Gliridae, resembling small squirrels in appearance and habits. [1400 50; late ME dormowse, dormoise; etym. obscure; perh. AF deriv. of OF dormir to… …   Universalium

  • dormouse — lazdyninė miegapelė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Muscardinus avellanarius angl. common dormouse; dormouse; hazel dormouse vok. Bilch; Haselmaus; Haselschläfer; kleine Haselmaus; kleine Schlafmaus;… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • dormouse — UK [ˈdɔː(r)ˌmaʊs] / US [ˈdɔrˌmaʊs] noun [countable] Word forms dormouse : singular dormouse plural dormice UK [ˈdɔː(r)ˌmaɪs] / US [ˈdɔrˌmaɪs] a small European animal similar to a mouse but with a furry tail …   English dictionary

  • dormouse — noun /ˈdɔːmaʊs/ a) Any of several species of small, mostly European rodents of the family Gliridae; also called Myoxidae or Muscardinidae by some taxonomists. b) A person who sleeps a great deal, or who falls asleep readily (by analogy with the… …   Wiktionary

  • dormouse — [[t]dɔ͟ː(r)maɪs[/t]] dormice N COUNT A dormouse is a small animal that looks like a mouse. It is found in southern England and Wales …   English dictionary

  • Dormouse (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) — Dormouse Alice character The Hatter with the Dormouse asleep on the left. Illustration by John Tenniel. First appearance …   Wikipedia

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