Main Entry: ¹mus·cle

Pronunciation: \ˈmə-səl\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin musculus, from diminutive of mus mouse — more at mouse

Date: 14th century

1 a : a body tissue consisting of long cells that contract when stimulated and produce motion b : an organ that is essentially a mass of muscle tissue attached at either end to a fixed point and that by contracting moves or checks the movement of a body part
2 a : muscular strength : brawn b : effective strength : power <political muscle>