/tit"mows'/ , n. , pl. titmice /-muys'/ .
any of numerous, widely distributed, small songbirds of the family Paridae, esp. of the genus Parus, having soft, thick plumage and a short, stout, conical bill. Cf. tufted titmouse .
[ 1275-1325; ME tit ( e ) mose (see TIT 1 ); mose, OE mase titmouse; c. G Meise titmouse, ON meis- in meisingr kind of bird; modern mouse by folk etym. ]