‖prop. n.; pl. Muscae [ L., a fly. ] 1. (Zool.) A genus of dipterous insects, including the common house fly, and numerous allied species. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly, a large part of the Diptera were included under the genus Musca. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) A small constellation situated between the Southern Cross and the Pole. [ 1913 Webster ]

Muscae volitantes [ L., flying flies. ] (Med.) Specks or filaments apparently seen moving or gliding about in the field of vision. Their appearance is often a symptom of disease of the eye, or of disorder of the nervous system. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. moscadello, moscatello, LL. muscatellum or muscadellum (sc. vinum), fr. muscatellus nutmeglike, dim. of muscatus smelling like musk, muscatum and muscata (sc. nux) nutmeg: cf. F. muscadelle, fr. Italian. See Musk and cf. Moschatel, Muscardin, Muscat, Nutmeg. ] See Muscatel, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quaffed off the muscadel. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A white grape grown esp. in the Loire Valley in France. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A dry white wine from the Loire Valley in France. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ See Muscadel. ] 1. (Bot.) A name given to several very different kinds of grapes, but in America used chiefly for the scuppernong, or southern fox grape, which is said to be the parent stock of the Catawba. See Grapevine. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A fragrant and delicious pear. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) See Muscardin. [ 1913 Webster ]

Northern muscadine (Bot.), a derivative of the northern fox grape, and scarcely an improvement upon it. --
Royal muscadine (Bot.), a European grape of great value. Its berries are large, round, and of a pale amber color. Called also golden chasselas. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. muscus moss. ] (Bot.) An old name for mosses in the widest sense, including the true mosses and also hepaticae and sphagna. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Muskellunge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. muscadin a musk-scented lozenge, fr. muscade nutmeg, fr. L. muscus musk. See Muscadel. ] (Zool.) The common European dormouse; -- so named from its odor. [ Written also muscadine. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] A disease which is very destructive to silkworms, and which sometimes extends to other insects. It is attended by the development of a fungus (provisionally called Botrytis bassiana). Also, the fungus itself. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. muscarium fly brush + -form. ] Having the form of a brush. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physiol. Chem.) A solid crystalline substance, C5H13NO2, found in the toadstool (Agaricus muscarius), and in putrid fish. It is a typical ptomaine, and a violent poison. [ 1913 Webster ]