ˈdȯrˌmau̇s noun
( plural dor·mice -mīs)
Etymology: Middle English dormowse, perhaps from French dormir to sleep + Middle English mowse, mous mouse; from its cold-weather torpidity — more at dormant , mouse
: any of numerous small Old World rodents of the family Gliridae that resemble small squirrels, live in trees, feed on nuts and acorns, become torpid in cold weather, and yield a velvety fur used in trimming — see lerot , loir