† 1. mūs, mūris
(
- I. gen. plur. murum, Arn. 3, 3; usually murium, Cic. N. D. 2, 63, 157; Plin. 8, 27, 41, § 98; v. Neue, Formenl. 1, 286 sq.), comm. [kindred to Greek μῦς; Sanscr. mūsh, the same, from mūsh, furari], a mouse: non solum inquilini, sed etiam mures migraverunt, Cic. Att. 14, 9, 1: exiguus, Verg. G. 1, 181: rusticus, urbanus, Hor. S. 2, 6, 80 al.
Prov., v. mons, I.: neque enim homines murium aut formicarum causā frumentum condunt, Cic. N. D. 2, 63, 158.
Compared with parasites: quasi mures semper edimus alienum cibum, Plaut. Pers. 1, 2, 6.
The ancients included under this name the rat, marten, sable, er mine, e. g. mures domestici, agrestes, aranei, Pontici, Libyci, marini, Plin. 8, 57, 82, § 221; 9, 19, 35, § 71; 10, 65, 85, § 185: pelles, perh. ermine, Amm. 31, 2, 5: Africani, Plin. 30, 6, 14, § 43: odorati, musk-rats, Hier. Ep. 127, 3.
As a term of abuse, you rat: videbo te in publicum, mus, imo terrae tuber, Petr. 58.
As a term of endearment: cum me murem dicis, my little mouse, Mart. 11, 29, 3.
- II. Mus marinus, a kind of crustaceous sea-fish, Plin. 9, 19, 35, § 71; Enn. ap. App. Mag. p. 299 (Heduph. v. 2 Vahl.).