[mus.cle] n, often attrib [ME, fr. MF, fr. L musculus, fr. dim. of mus mouse--more at mouse] (14c) 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 ~"
[2]muscle vb mus.cled ; mus.cling vt (1913): to move or force by or as if by muscular effort "muscled him out of office" ~ vi: to make one's way by brute strength or by force