n. [ F., a she-mule, L. mula, fem. of mulus; cf. Gr. my`klos, mychlo`s. Cf. AS. mūl, fr. L. mulus. Cf. Mulatto. ] 1. (Zool.) A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare. Sometimes the term is applied to the offspring of a horse and a she-ass, but that hybrid is more properly termed a hinny. See Hinny. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Mules are much used as draught animals. They are hardy, and proverbial for stubbornness. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; -- called also hybrid. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A very stubborn person. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; -- called also jenny and mule-jenny. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A slipper that has no fitting around the heel.
Syn. -- mules, scuff, scuffs. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

Mule armadillo (Zool.), a long-eared armadillo (Tatusia hybrida), native of Buenos Ayres; -- called also mulita. See Illust. under Armadillo. --
Mule deer (Zool.), a large deer (Cervus macrotis syn. Cariacus macrotis) of the Western United States. The name refers to its long ears. --
Mule pulley (Mach.), an idle pulley for guiding a belt which transmits motion between shafts that are not parallel. --
Mule twist, cotton yarn in cops, as spun on a mule; -- in distinction from yarn spun on a throstle frame. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Mule, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Any of several arthropods erroneously supposed to kill live stock, in the southern United States, by stinging or by being swallowed; as: (a) A whip scorpion. [ Florida ] (b) A walking-stick insect. [ Texas ] (c) A mantis. (d) A wheel bug. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. muletier, fr. mulet a mule, dim. fr. L. mulus. ] One who drives mules. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Hemionitis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Sawmills) A stiff, long saw, guided at the ends but not stretched in a gate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Muley axle (Railroad), a car axle without collars at the outer ends of the journals. Forney. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Mulley. [ 1913 Webster ]