rearmouse, reremouse Now only arch. or dial.
(ˈrɪəmaʊs)
Forms: α. 1 hrere-, hryremus, (2 reremus), 4–5 reremous, -mows(e, 6–7, 9 reremouse, (7 reere-, 7, 9 dial. reer-). β. 6–7 reare-, 7– rearmouse, (9 dial. rare-). γ. 6–7 pl. remice, -mise, 9 dial. ry(e)-, ray-, raa-, rawmouse.
[OE. hrerem{uacu}s, f. m{uacu}s mouse.
The first element may represent the stem of OE. hréran to move, but the length of the vowel is not certain. It is also possible that the form is an alteration (by phonetic corruption or popular etymology) of the older hréaðem{uacu}s, found in the earliest glosses and some later texts, and perh. represented by some of the existing dialect forms.]
= bat n.1 (Cf. flicker-, flinder-, flitter-mouse.)
| α a 1100 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 318/27 Uespertilio, hrere⁓mus. 1382 Wyclif Lev. xi. 19 A lapwynk and a reremous. 1382 ― Baruch vi. 21 Aboue the hed of hem backis, or reremijse, and swalewis fleeȝen. 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles iii. 272 Not to rewle as reremys, and reste on the daies. 1552 Huloet, Backe or Reremouse which flieth in the darke, nicteris. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. ii. ii. 4 Some warre with Reremise for their leathern wings. 1634 Sir T. Herbert Trav. 212 Reer-mice, or Bats so large as Gos⁓hawkes. 1686 J. Dunton Lett. fr. New-Eng. (1867) 24 One of the Seamen affirm'd that he had seen Flying Fishes, and that they had wings like a Rere-Mouse. 1863 Wise New Forest 192 The bat is here called rere-mouse. 1864– in dial. glossaries (Dorset, Som., Glouc., Hants). 1886 R. F. Burton Arab. Nts. (abr. ed.) I. Foreword 8 The rere⁓mouse flitted overhead with his tiny shriek. |
| β 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 504 We shall wander and straggle blindely..as wantes and rearemyce at the bright beames of the cleare Sunne. 1668 Dryden Even. Love v. i, Some flying, and some sticking upon the Walls like Rear-mice. 1728 Morgan Algiers I. iv. 129 These Brutes, whose language resembled the screeching of Bats, or Rear-Mice. 1835 Browning Paracelsus iii. 391 Do the rear-mice still Hang like a fretwork on the gate? 1892 Earl Lytton King Poppy Epil. 163 The rear-mice flit In the hard furrow. |
| γ 1565 Golding Ovid's Met. iv. (1593) 92 We in English language bats or remice call the same. 1603 Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 544 Their lights are oftentimes put out with the..swarmes of remise flying about their eares. 1825 Britton Beauties Wilts III. Prov., Rymouse, a bat. 1851, 1893 in Glouc. and Wilts glossaries (rye-, raa-, rawmouse). |
† b. transf. (See
quot.)
Obs.—1| 1611 Cotgr. Rondole, the sea Bat, or Rearemouse of the sea; a flying fish. |