Dormouse

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ˈdɔɹmaÊŠs/
• RP IPA: /ˈdɔːmaÊŠs/

Origin

From Middle English dormous, of uncertain origin. Possibly from dor-, from Old Norse dár ("benumbed") + mous ("mouse"). More at doze, mouse.

The word is sometimes considered to come from an Anglo-Norman derivative of Old French dormir ("to sleep"), but no such Anglo-Norman word is known to have existed.

Random House Dictionary, dormouse.

Full definition of dormouse

Noun

1. Any of several species of small, mostly European rodents of the family Gliridae; also called Myoxidae or by some taxonomists.
2. (UK) , the .
3. (figuratively) A person who sleeps a great deal, or who falls asleep readily (by analogy with the sound hibernation of the dormouse).