Definition of 'dormouse'

Word Frequency

dormouse

(dɔːʳmaʊs )

Word forms: plural dormice (dɔːʳmaɪs )

countable noun

A dormouse is a small animal that looks like a mouse. It is found in southern England and Wales.

Image of 'dormouse'

Word Frequency

dormouse in British

(ˈdɔːˌmaʊs )

noun plural -mice

any small Old World rodent of the family Gliridae, esp the Eurasian Muscardinus avellanarius, resembling a mouse with a furry tail

Word origin of 'dormouse'

C15: dor-, perhaps from Old French dormir to sleep, from Latin dormīre + mouse

Word Frequency

dormouse in American

(ˈdɔrˌmaʊs ; dôrˈmousˌ)

nounWord forms: plural ˈdorˌmice (ˈdɔrˌmaɪs ; dôrˈmīsˌ)

any of a family (Gliridae) of small, furry-tailed, mostly tree-dwelling Old World rodents

Word origin of 'dormouse'

ME dormous ? altered by folk etym. (after mous, mouse) < OFr dormeuse, sleepy, sluggish < dormir: see dormant

Example sentences containing 'dormouse'

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How many of our visitors do you imagine will have had any experience of roast dormouse ? Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2003)I see from the programme that one of these alleged smells is that of roasting dormouse. Anthony Masters CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2003)

"There is something of the dormouse in him still," said the dark-haired woman. Neil Gaiman STARDUST (2003)