MOUSE, noun plural mice. [Latin mus; The Latin mus forms muris in the genitive, and the root is not obvious.]

1. A small animal of the genus Mus, inhabiting houses. The name is also applied to many other species of the genus, as the field mouse meadow mouse rock mouse etc.

2. Among seamen, a knob formed on a rope by spun yarn or parceling.

MOUSE, verb intransitive . mouz. To catch mice.

MOUSE, verb transitive mouz. To tear, as a cat devours a mouse

To mouse a hook, with seamen, is to fasten a small line across the upper part to prevent unhooking.