church-mouse
[cf. Ger. kirchenmaus.]
A mouse which inhabits a church. The proverb ‘as poor as a church-mouse’ is found also in German, and other langs.
| 1731 Pol. Ballads (1860) II. 222 The owner, 'tis said, was once poor as church-mouse. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xxiii, The young couple are as poor as church mice. |