Muss

//mʌs// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A mess (disagreeable mixture or confusion of things; disorder).
  2. 2
    A term of endearment. obsolete
  3. 3
    a state of confusion and disorderliness wordnet
  4. 4
    A scramble, as when small objects are thrown down, to be taken by those who can seize them; a confused struggle. obsolete

    "Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried 'Ho!' like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth, and cry 'Your will?' Have you no ears? I am Antony yet."

Verb
  1. 1
    To rumple, tousle or make (something) untidy. transitive

    "The old man affectionately mussed his grandson's hair."

  2. 2
    make messy or untidy wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
messbotchbotcherybrawlbroilbully

Example

More examples

""Muß" is an old and incorrect way of writing of "muss"."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Related to mess (“disorder”).

Etymology 2

Compare Middle English mus (“a mouse”). See mouse.

Related phrases

muss up

More for "muss"

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.