titmouse

[ tit-mous ]

/ ˈtɪtˌmaʊs /

noun, plural tit·mice [tit-mahys] /ˈtɪtˌmaɪs/.

any of numerous, widely distributed, small songbirds of the family Paridae, especially of the genus Parus, having soft, thick plumage and a short, stout, conical bill.

Nearby words

Compare tufted titmouse.

Origin of titmouse

1275–1325; Middle English tit(e)mose (see tit¹); mose, Old English māse titmouse; cognate with German Meise titmouse, Old Norse meis- in meisingr kind of bird; modern mouse by folk etymology

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for titmouse

The titmouse that we know now is only an image of the other.
Myths of the Cherokee|James Mooney
What becomes of Titmouse is not known, and did not seem to be much cared about.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 1, November 27, 1841|Various
This man's face looked so ready for mischief, that Titmouse slowly walked off.
Ten Thousand a-Year (Vol. 2)|Samuel Warren
Mr. Titmouse was surprised at the gentleman's knowledge of the family history of the Titmouses.
Ten Thousand a-Year. Volume 1.|Samuel Warren

That being the state of things with Delamere, how stood matters with Mr. Titmouse?
Ten Thousand a-Year. Volume 3.|Samuel Warren

British Dictionary definitions for titmouse

titmouse

/ (ˈtɪtˌmaʊs) /

noun plural -mice

(usually plural) any small active songbird of the family Paridae, esp those of the genus ParusSee tit 1

Word Origin for titmouse

C14 titemous, from tite (see tit 1) + mouse

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for titmouse

titmouse

"small, active bird," early 14c., titmose, from tit (n.2), expressing something small, + Old English mase "titmouse," from Proto-Germanic *maison (cf. Dutch mees, German meise), from adj. *maisa- "little, tiny." Spelling influenced 16c. by unrelated mouse.