mousing

Pluralmousings (some meanings)

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle of mouse. Use this form for the action of catching mice while it is happening.

   The cat was mousing in the barn all night.

   Our young kitten is already mousing on its own.

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   The hunting of mice and other small animals, often by jumping down on them.

   Like a cat's job of catching mice around a house or farm.

   The old cat is too lazy for mousing these days.

   Good mousing keeps the barn free of pests.

3. 3
   noununcountable

   Using a computer mouse to control a screen or program.

   Like steering an arrow around the screen with your hand.

   Too much mousing can make your wrist sore.

   She finds mousing easier than using the touchpad.

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Always trying to find out other people's private business in a nosy way.

   Like someone who always peeks over the fence to watch the neighbors.

   She gave her mousing neighbor a cold look over the fence.

   He hated their mousing questions about his money.

   Similarnosy, meddlesome, inquisitive

   Oppositediscreet, incurious

   Note
5. 5
   nouncountable

   A wrap of cord or a metal clasp across a hook's opening, keeping it from slipping off or bending open.

   Like a safety latch that keeps a hook from opening on its own.

   The sailor added a mousing to the hook so the rope would not slip free.

   Without a mousing, the heavy load could pull the hook open.

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   A ratchet part in a loom that moves a piece forward step by step.

   Like the catch on a bike wheel that lets it spin one way only.

   The mousing in the loom clicked each time the weaver pulled the lever.

   A broken mousing stopped the loom from advancing the cloth.

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