▪ I. muset1 Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈmjuːzɪt)
Also 6 musit, 7 musett, 9 dial. mussit.
[a. OF. mucette, mussette, ‘a little hole, corner, or hoord to hide things in’ (Cotgr.), f. muce, musse: see meuse.]
= meuse n. 1. Also, a hare's ‘form’.
| 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 683 The many musits through the which he goes, Are like a laberinth to amaze his foes. 1595 Markham Gentl. Acad. 32 We terme..the places through the which she [sc. the hare] goeth to releefe, her muset. 1600 Holland Livy xxxviii. xlix. 1015 To prevent those Thracian theeves that they should not hide themselves within their peakish holes & ordinarie covert musets. 1653 E. Chisenhale Cath. Hist. Ep. Ded. A 4, The Author..had no sooner escaped out of the English sheep-fold, but straightway he discovers the Muset thorow which he stole. 1688 R. Holme Armoury ii 134/2 A Hare [is lodged] in his Forme or Musett. |
| attrib. 1594 Barnfield Affect. Sheph. ii. xi. (Arb.) 13 Or with Hare-pypes (set in a muset hole) Wilt thou deceave the deep-earth-delving Coney? |
▪ II. † muset2 Obs. rare—1.
[a. OF. muset, also musette shrew-mouse.]
A shrew-mouse.
| 1601 Holland Pliny II. 375 Against the biting of these musets or hardi-shrews [L. muris aranei morsibus]. |