Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A name of several European species of mice, Mus sylvaticus, and sundry other species of the same genus, as the harvest-mouse, M. humilis.
  • noun An American species of meadow-mice. See Arvicola.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • He did not "create a soul under the ribs of death," by tinkling siren sounds, or by piling up centos of poetical diction; but for the artificial flowers of poetry, he plucked the mountain-daisy under his feet; and a field-mouse, hurrying from its ruined dwelling, could inspire him with the sentiments of terror and pity.

    2009 January 25 | NIGEL BEALE NOTA BENE BOOKS 2009

  • He did not "create a soul under the ribs of death," by tinkling siren sounds, or by piling up centos of poetical diction; but for the artificial flowers of poetry, he plucked the mountain-daisy under his feet; and a field-mouse, hurrying from its ruined dwelling, could inspire him with the sentiments of terror and pity.

    Sunday Salon: Robert Burns: ‘He held the plough or the pen with the same firm, manly grasp’ 2009

  • Finally, there was a chink of coin passing from paw to paw, the field-mouse was provided with an ample basket for his purchases, and off he hurried, he and his lantern.

    'Wind In The Willows': A Christmas Take On A Classic 2009

  • When the latch clicked, the door opened, and the field-mouse with the lantern reappeared, staggering under the weight of his basket.

    'Wind In The Willows': A Christmas Take On A Classic 2009

  • They gave us a capital one last year, about a field-mouse who was captured at sea by a Barbary corsair, and made to row in a galley.

    'Wind In The Willows': A Christmas Take On A Classic 2009

  • The field-mouse addressed got up on his legs, giggled shyly, looked round the room, and remained absolutely tongue-tied.

    'Wind In The Willows': A Christmas Take On A Classic 2009

  • She walked backwards and forwards to warm herself, beginning to discern something of the objects around her, as her eyes became accustomed to the night — the darker line of the hedge, the rapid motion of some living creature — perhaps a field-mouse — rushing across the grass.

    Adam Bede 2004

  • For the field-mouse only for its blindness was worshipped as a god among the Egyptians, because they were of an opinion that darkness was before light and that the latter had its birth from mice about the fifth generation at the new moon; and moreover that the liver of this creature diminishes in the wane of the moon.

    Essays and Miscellanies 2004

  • For the field-mouse only for its blindness was worshipped as a god among the Egyptians, because they were of an opinion that darkness was before light and that the latter had its birth from mice about the fifth generation at the new moon; and moreover that the liver of this creature diminishes in the wane of the moon.

    Symposiacs 2004

  • With no more sound than a field-mouse makes in the building of its silken nest, and feet as light as the step of the wind upon the scarcely ruffled grass, I quitted my screen, and went gliding down a hedge, or rather the residue of some old hedge, which would shelter me a little toward the hollow of the banks.

    Erema Richard Doddridge 2004

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