Mussel definition | Dictionary.com

mus⋅sel

[muhs-uh

–noun

any bivalve mollusk, esp. an edible marine bivalve of the family Mytilidae and a freshwater clam of the family Unionidae.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME, OE muscle < VL *mūscula, var. of L mūsculus little mouse, sea mussel. See muscle

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Mussel

Spanish:

mejillón,

German:

die Muschel,

Japanese:

むらさきがい

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mus·sel (mŭs'əl) Pronunciation Key
n.

Any of several marine bivalve mollusks, especially the edible members of the family Mytilidae and in particular Mytilus edulis, a blue-black species raised commercially in Europe. Mussels are often found attached to rocky surfaces or the sides of ships.
Any of several freshwater bivalve mollusks of the genera Anodonta and Unio, found in the central United States, that burrow in the sand or mud of lakes and streams.

[Alteration (possibly influenced by Dutch mossel) of Middle English muscle, from Old English muscelle, from Medieval Latin mūscula, from Latin mūsculus, sea mussel; see muscle.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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mussel

O.E. muscle, musscel, from L.L. muscula (cf. O.Fr. musle, modern Fr. moule), from L. musculus "mussel," lit. "little mouse," also "muscle;" like muscle, derived from mus "mouse" on the perceived similarity of size and shape. The modern spelling, distinguishing the word from muscle, first recorded 1610, not fully established until 1870s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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mussel
noun
1.	black marine bivalves usually steamed in wine
2.	marine or freshwater bivalve mollusk that lives attached to rocks etc.

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Mussel

Mus"sel\, n. [See Muscle, 3.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of many species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Mytilus, and related genera, of the family Mytid[ae]. The common mussel (Mytilus edulis; see Illust. under Byssus), and the larger, or horse, mussel (Modiola modiolus), inhabiting the shores both of Europe and America, are edible. The former is extensively used as food in Europe.

2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of Unio, and related fresh-water genera; -- called also river mussel. See Naiad, and Unio.

Mussel digger (Zo["o]l.), the grayback whale. See Gray whale, under Gray.

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