I. ˈmə-səl noun
Usage: often attributive
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
II. verb
( mus·cled ; mus·cling ˈmə-s(ə-)liŋ)
Date: 1913
transitive verb
: to move or force by or as if by muscular effort
muscled him out of office
intransitive verb
: to make one's way by brute strength or by force