mouse-ear

1 of 2

noun (1)

1
: a Eurasian hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella) introduced into North America that has soft hairy leaves and yellow flowers
2
: any of several plants other than mouse-ear that have soft hairy leaves

mouse-ear cress

2 of 2

noun (2)

variants or less commonly mouse-ear
: a Eurasian herb (Arabidopsis thaliana) naturalized as a weed in the U.S.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mouse-ear was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Mouse-ear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mouse-ear. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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