mousle, v. arch.
(ˈmaʊz(ə)l)
Also 7 mouzle, mowsle, 9 mowzle.
[frequentative of mouse v. 2 c: cf. tousle v.]
trans. To pull about roughly.
| 1662 J. Wilson Cheats ii. iv, Away Captain:—You do so mousle one. 1675 Wycherley Country Wife iv. ii, He put the tip of his tongue between my lips, and so mousled me. 1695 Congreve Love for L. iii. ix, He has got her into a Corner,..he'll touzle her, and mouzle her. |
| transf. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. I. 214 The poor word is sure to be mumbled and mowsled to purpose. |
Hence
ˈmousled ppl. a., pulled about roughly.
| 1691 J. Wilson Belphegor iii. iii, I see a mousled Hood, rumpled Tippet, or tumbled Petty-coat wou'd not down with you! 1878 H. S. Wilson Alp. Ascents iv. 121 But there were the mowzled blobs. |