Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MUS'LIN, a.

Made of muslin; as, a muslin gown.

MUS'LIN, n. [s as z.; Fr. mousseline; It. mussolina, mussolo; Sp. moselina or musulina. This, if a compound word, is formed of Fr. mousse, moss, or its root, on account of its soft nap, and lin, flax. The opinion of Lunier that it is named from Moussoul, Mesopotamia, is probably unfounded.]

A sort of fine cotton cloth, which bears a downy knot on its surface. Encyc.

MUS-LIN-ET', n.

A sort of coarse cotton cloth.

MUS'MON, or MUS'I-MON, n.

An animal esteemed a species of sheep, described by the ancients as common in Corsica, Sardinia and Barbary. Buffon considers it to be the sheep in a wild state. Encyc.

MUS'ROLE, n. [Fr. muserolle, from museau, muzzle.]

The nose band of a horse's bridle. Bailey.

MUSS, n.

A scramble. [Not used.]

MUS'SEL, n.¹ [See MUSCLE.]

MUS'SEL, n.²

A fresh water bivalve shell of the genera Unio, Anodon, &c.

MUS'SITE, n. [from the valley of Mussa, in Piedmont.]

A variety of pyroxene of a greenish white color; otherwise called diopside. Dict. Nat. Hist.

MUS'SUL-MAN, n.

A Mohammedan, or follower of Mohammed. The word, it is said, signifies in the Turkish language a true believer, or orthodox. It may be from Ar. eslam, salvation. Cyc. Thomson.

MUS-SUL-MAN'IC, a.

Pertaining to mussulmans, or like them or their customs. Dumas.

MUS'SUL-MAN-ISH, a.

Mohammedan. Herbert.

MUS'SUL-MAN-LY, adv.

In the manner of Mussulmans.

MUST, n. [L. mustum; Sax. must; It. Sp. and Port. mosto; Russ. mst; Fr. moût; D. and G. most; Heb. and Ch. חמצ, to ferment. Class Ms, No. 33.]

New wine; wine pressed from the grape but not fermented. Encyc.

MUST, v.i.¹ [Sax. most; D. moeten, moest; Sw. måste; G. müssen. It is used as an auxiliary verb, and has no variation to express person, time or number. Its primary sense is probably to be strong or able, as it is rendered in Saxon; from pressing, straining. Class Ms, No. 25. Ch. and No. 31.]

1. To be obliged; to be necessitated. It expresses both physical and moral necessity. A man must eat for nourishment, and he must sleep for refreshment. We must submit to the laws or be exposed to punishment. A bill in a legislative body must have three readings before it can pass to be enacted.
2. It expresses moral fitness or propriety, as necessary or essential to the character or end proposed “Deacons must be grave;” “a bishop must have a good report of them that are without.” 1 Tim. iii.

MUST, v.i.²

To grow moldy and sour; to contract a fetid smell.

MUST, v.t. [Fr. moisi, moldy; Ir. musgam, to be musty. Qn. W. mws, of a strong scent.]

To make moldy and sour. Mortimer.

MUS'TAC, n.

A small tufted monkey.

MUS-TA'CHES, n. [Fr. moustaches; Sp. mostacho; whisker; It. mostacchio; Gr. μυσταξ, the upper lip, and the hair growing on it.]

Long hair on the upper lip.

MUS'TARD, n. [It. mostarda; Fr. moutarde; Arm. mustard; Port. mostarda; Sp. mostaza; W. mwstarz; mws, that has a strong scent, and tarz, a breaking out.]

A plant of the genus Sinapis, and its seed, which has a pungent taste and is a powerful irritant. It is used externally in cataplasms, and internally as a diuretic and irritant. Encyc.

MUS-TEE', or MES-TEE', n.

A person of a mixed breed, West Indies.

MUS'TE-LINE, a. [L. mustelinus, from mustela, a weazel.]

Pertaining to the weazel or animals of the genus Mustela; as, a musteline color; the musteline genus.

MUS'TER, n. [It. and Port. mostra, a show or muster; Sp. muestra, a pattern, a model, a muster-roll; G. muster, a pattern, a sample; D. monster; Dan. mynster; L. monstrum, a show or prodigy.]

1. An assembling of troops for review, or a review of troops under arms. Encyc.
2. A register or roll of troops mustered. Ye publish the musters of your own bands. Hooker.
3. A collection, or the act of collecting. Ainsworth. To pass muster, to be approved or allowed. South.

MUS'TER, v.i.

To assemble; to meet in one place.

MUS'TER, v.t. [G. mustern, D. monsteren, Sw. mönstra, Dan. mynstrer, to muster; It. mostrare, Sp. and Port. mostrar, Fr. montrer, L. monstro, to show. Either n has been lost in some of these languages, or it is not radical in the Latin.]

Properly, to collect troops for review, parade and exercise; but in general, to collect or assemble troops, persons or things. The officers muster their soldiers regularly; they muster all their forces. The philosopher musters all the wise sayings of the ancients. Spenser. Locke. Tillotson.