MUCEDINOUS, m[=u]-sed'i-nus, _adj._ like mould or mildew.
MUCH, much, _adj._ great in size, quantity, or extent: long in
duration.--_adv._ to a great degree: by far: often or long: almost.--_n._ a
great quantity: a strange thing.--_adj._ MUCH'EL (_Spens._), much.--_n._
MUCH'NESS, state of being much.--MUCH ABOUT IT, something like what it
usually is; MUCH OF A MUCHNESS=just about the same value or amount.--MAKE
MUCH OF (see MAKE); NOT SO MUCH AS, not even; TOO MUCH FOR, more than a
match for. [M. E. _muche_, _moche_, _muchel_, _mochel_--A.S. _mic-el_; cf.
Ice. _mjök_.]
MUCIC, m[=u]'sik, _adj._ derived from gums.--_n._ M[=U]'CATE, a salt of
mucic acid and a base.
MUCID, m[=u]'sid, _adj._ slimy, mouldy--also M[=U]'CIDOUS.--_ns._
M[=U]'CIDNESS, M[=U]'COR.
MUCK, muk, _n._ dung: a mass of decayed vegetable matter: anything low and
filthy.--_v.t._ to manure with muck.--_v.i._ MUCK'ER, to make a muddle of
anything, to fail.--_n._ a heavy fall in the mire: a coarse, dirty
fellow.--_ns._ MUCK'-HEAP, a dung-hill; MUCK'INESS; MUCK'-RAKE, a rake for
scraping filth; MUCK'-SWEAT, profuse sweat; MUCK'-WORM, a worm that lives
in muck: one who acquires money by mean devices: a miser.--_adj._ MUCK'Y,
nasty, filthy. [Scand., Ice. _myki_, Dan. _mög_, dung.]
MUCK, mistaken form of _amuck_.
MUCKER, muk'[.e]r, _n._ a canting person, a hypocrite, esp. a follower of
the sect of J. W. Ebel of Königsberg, suspected of dirty practices. [Ger.]
MUCKLE, a Scotch form of _mickle_.
MUCRONATE, -D, m[=u]'kro-n[=a]t, -ed, _adj._ (_bot._) terminating in a
short and sharp point.--_n._ M[=U]'CRO, a spine-like process.--_adj._
MUCRON'[=U]LATE, very mucronate. [L. _mucron[=a]tus_--_mucro_, _mucronis_,
a sharp point.]
MUCUS, m[=u]'kus, _n._ the slimy fluid from the nose: the viscous fluid
secreted by the mucous membrane of animals.--_adjs._ M[=U]CIF'EROUS;
M[=U]CIF'IC; M[=U]'CIFORM.--_n._ M[=U]'CIGEN, a substance secreted by the
cells of mucous membrane, converted into mucin.--_adjs._ M[=U]CIG'ENOUS,
M[=U]CIP'AROUS, secreting mucus.--_n._ M[=U]'CILAGE, the solution of a gum
in water: the gum extracted from plants.--_adj._ MUCILAG'INOUS, pertaining
to, or secreting, mucilage: slimy.--_n._ M[=U]'CIN, an alkaline glutinous
fluid forming the chief constituent of mucus.--_adjs._ M[=U]CIV'OROUS,
feeding on the juices of plants; M[=U]'COID, like mucus;
M[=U]COP[=U]'RULENT, pertaining to mucus and pus.--_n._ MUCOS'ITY.--_adjs._
MUCO'SO-SAC'CHARINE, partaking of the properties of mucilage and sugar;
M[=U]'COUS, like mucus: slimy: viscous; M[=U]'CULENT, like mucus.--MUCOUS
MEMBRANE (see MEMBRANE). [L., cf. L. _mung[)e]re_, wipe away.]
MUD, mud, _n._ wet soft earth.--_v.t._ to bury in mud: to dirty: to stir
the sediment in, as in liquors; to bury in mud.--_v.i._ to go under the mud
like the eel.--_ns._ MUD'-BATH, a kind of mud connected with some mineral
springs into which the patient plunges himself; MUD'-BOAT, -SCOW, a boat
for carrying away the mud dredged from a river, &c.; MUD'-CONE, a
mud-volcano.--_adv._ MUD'DILY.--_n._ MUD'DINESS.--_adj._ MUD'DY, foul with
mud: containing mud: covered with mud: confused: stupid.--_v.t._ to dirty:
to render dull:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ mud'died.--_adjs._ MUD'DY-HEAD'ED,
having a muddy or dull head or understanding; MUD'DY-METT'LED (_Shak._),
dull-spirited: spiritless.--_ns._ MUD'-FISH, a fish which burrows in the
mud; MUD'-FLAT, a muddy strip of shore submerged at high tide; MUD'-GUARD,
the dash-board of a carriage; MUD'-HOLE, a place full of mud: an orifice in
the bottom of a boiler where the sediment is collected; MUD'-LARK, a man
who cleans public sewers or who picks up a living along the banks of tidal
rivers: a street-arab; MUD'-WALL, a wall composed of mud, or one in which
mud is used in place of mortar: the bee-eater. [Old Low Ger. _mudde_, Dut.
_modder_.]
MUDDLE, mud'l, _v.t._ to render muddy or foul, as water: to confuse, esp.
with liquor: to waste, squander, misuse.--_v.i._ to potter about.--_n._
confusion, mess: mental confusion, bewilderment.--_n._ MUDD'LEHEAD, a
blockhead.--_adv._ MUDDLEHEAD'EDLY.--_n._ MUDDLEHEAD'EDNESS. [Freq. of
_mud_.]
MUDIR, m[=oo]'d[=e]r, _n._ governor of an Egyptian province.
MUEZZIN, m[=u]-ez'in, _n._ the Mohammedan official attached to a mosque,
whose duty it is to announce the hours of prayer.--Also MUED'DIN. [Ar.]
MUFF, muf, _n._ a warm, soft cover for the hands in winter, usually of fur
or dressed skins.--_n._ MUFFETTEE', a small muff worn over the wrist.
[Prob. from Dut. _mof_; cf. Ger. _muff_, a muff.]
MUFF, muf, _n._ a stupid fellow.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ to perform awkwardly,
spoil: to act clumsily, esp. in letting a ball slip out of the hands.
[Prob. related to Dut. _muffen_, to dote; Ger. _muffen_, to sulk.]
MUFFIN, muf'in, _n._ a soft, light, spongy cake, eaten hot with butter: a
small plate: one who dangles after a young woman: a poor
ball-player.--_ns._ MUFF'IN-CAP, a round flat cap for men; MUFFINEER', a
dish for keeping muffins hot: a metal cruet for sprinkling salt or sugar on
muffins.
MUFFLE, muf'l, _n._ the thick naked upper lip and nose, as of a ruminant.
[Ger.]
MUFFLE, muf'l, _v.t._ to wrap up as with a muff: to blindfold: to cover up
so as to render sound dull, as a bell or a drum: to cover from the
weather.--_n._ something used for smothering sound: a boxing-glove: a clay
oven, as for firing pottery.--_adj._ MUFF'LED, wrapped up closely: dulled
or deadened--of sound.--_n._ MUFF'LER, a cover that muffles the face.
[_Muff_.]
MUFFLE, muf'l, _v.i._ to mumble.
MUFTI, muf'ti, _n._ a doctor or official expounder of Mohammedan law in
Turkey: the dress of an officer off duty. [Ar.]
MUG, mug, _n._ a kind of earthen or metal cup for liquor, its
contents.--_ns._ MUG'GER (_Scot._), a tramping tinker or vendor of
earthenware; MUG'-HOUSE, an alehouse; MUG'-HUNT'ER, one who competes at
games merely for the prizes. [Ir. _mugan_, a mug, _mucog_, a cup.]
MUG, mug, _n._ the human face, the mouth.
MUGGINS, mug'inz, _n._ a children's card-game played with a full pack
divided equally, each in turn laying down a card face up, the first one who
calls 'Muggins' when one matches another adding his card to the other's
pile, the aim being to get out as soon as possible. [Ety. dub.]
MUGGLETONIAN, mug-l-t[=o]'ni-an, _n._ a member of a sect founded in England
by John Reeve and Lodowick _Muggleton_ (1607-97), which lingered till well
into the 19th cent. They claimed to be the two witnesses of Rev. xi. 3-6,
denied the Trinity, holding grotesque anthropomorphist opinions, with many
strange doctrines over and above, as that the devil became incarnate in
Eve, &c.
MUGGY, mug'i, _adj._ foggy: close and damp, as weather: wet or mouldy, as
straw.--Also MUG'GISH. [Ice. _mugga_, mist; cf. Gael. _mugach_, cloudy.]
MUGWORT, mug'wurt, _n._ a common British species of wormwood.
MUGWUMP, mug'wump, _n._ an Indian chief: a person of great importance, or
who thinks himself so: a humorous political use of the above. [Algonkin
_mugquomp_, a great man.]
MULATTO, m[=u]-lat'[=o], _n._ the offspring of black and white
parents:--_fem._ MULATT'RESS. [Sp. _mulato_.]
MULBERRY, mul'ber-i, _n._ the tree the leaves of which form the food of the
silkworm: the berry of this tree. [_Mul-_ is A.S. _mór-_ (as in A.S.
_mórbeám_, a mulberry)--L. _morus_; Gr. _m[=o]ron_.]
MULCH, the same as MULSH (q.v.).
MULCT, mulkt, _n._ a fine: a penalty.--_v.t._ to fine.--_adjs._ MULC'TARY,
MULC'T[=U]ARY, imposing a fine: paid as a fine. [L. _mulcta_, a fine.]
MULE, m[=u]l, _n._ the offspring of the horse and ass: an instrument for
cotton-spinning: an obstinate person.--_ns._ M[=U]LE'-DEER, the black-tail
of North America; M[=U]LETEER', one who drives mules.--_adj._ M[=U]L'ISH,
like a mule: obstinate.--_adv._ M[=U]L'ISHLY.--_n._ M[=U]L'ISHNESS. [A.S.
_mul_--L. _mulus_, mule.]
MULEY, m[=u]'li, _adj._ hornless.--_n._ any cow.--Also MOOL'Y, MUL'LEY.
MULIEBRITY, m[=u]-li-eb'ri-ti, _n._ womanhood: effeminacy,
softness.--_adj._ MUL'IER[=O]SE, fond of women.--_n._ MULIEROS'ITY.
[L.,--_mulier_, a woman.]
MULL, mul, _n._ a muddle or mess.--_v.t._ to break to pieces: to confuse,
muddle.