Shrewmouse
/ˈʃruːˌmaʊs/noun
A small mouse-like mammal with a long pointed snout, now usually called a shrew.
Did you know?The word *shrewmouse* reflects an old belief that shrews were dangerous or malevolent creatures, and the *shrew-* element was later associated with the sharp-tempered meaning of *shrew* in English.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
scrēawa
“A shrew; a small insect-eating mammal”
Middle English
ME
shrewmouse
“A shrew-like mouse, often regarded as a harmful or ill-omened creature”
Middle English
ME
shrewe
“An evil person, villain, or scold”
Modern English
English
shrewmouse
“An archaic or dialectal name for a shrew”