n.
Pronunciation: ' m ə -s ə l
Function: noun
Usage: often attrib
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin musculus, from diminutive of mus mouse ― more at MOUSE
Date: 14th century
1 a : a body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated and produce motion b : an organ that is essentially a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point and that by contracting moves or checks the movement of a body part
2 a : muscular strength : BRAWN b : effective strength : POWER <political muscle >