titmouse

noun

tit·​mouse ˈtit-ˌmau̇s How to pronounce titmouse (audio)
plural titmice ˈtit-ˌmīs How to pronounce titmouse (audio)
: any of several small North American oscine birds (genus Baeolophus of the family Paridae) that are related to the chickadees, have small bills and usually long tails, and have been sometimes placed especially formerly in a related genus (Parus)

Examples of titmouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This dinosaur is known for a crest on the top of its head, similar to a cockatoo or tufted titmouse. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024 Binoculars mean the difference between seeing a little gray bird and identifying a titmouse, cheering a home run and seeing the epic catch, or realizing that the 10-point buck is actually a doe standing in front of dead branches. — Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English titemose, tetmose "tit (European bird of the family Paridae)," from tite-, tet-, probably of expressive origin + mose "any of various small Eurasian songbirds of the family Paridae," going back to Old English māse, going back to Germanic *maisōn- (whence also Old Saxon mēsa "tit," Middle Dutch mese, Old High German meisa, Icelandic -meisa), of uncertain origin

Note: The Middle English word was reshaped by folk etymology in early Modern English after mouse entry 1. The word tit was used (and is still used regionally in Britain) for a small horse, a girl or young woman, and a boy. — The Germanic etymon occurs with a suffix in Old Icelandic meisingr "tit" and the Frankish (Old Low Franconian) word behind Old French mesange "tit," Modern French mésange.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of titmouse was in the 14th century

Rhymes for titmouse

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Cite this Entry

“Titmouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/titmouse. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

titmouse

noun
tit·​mouse ˈtit-ˌmau̇s How to pronounce titmouse (audio)
plural titmice -ˌmīs How to pronounce titmouse (audio)
: any of several small North American songbirds that usually have small bills and long tails, feed on insects, and are related to the chickadees

More from Merriam-Webster on titmouse

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about titmouse

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