/dawr"mows'/ , n. , pl. dormice /-muys'/ .
any small, furry-tailed, Old World rodent of the family Gliridae, resembling small squirrels in appearance and habits.
[ 1400-50; late ME dormowse, dormoise; etym. obscure; perh. AF deriv. of OF dormir to sleep (see DORMANT), with final syll. reanalyzed as MOUSE, but no such AF word is known ]