Mule \Mule\ (m[=u]l), n. [F., a she-mule, L. mula, fem. of mulus; cf. Gr. my`klos, mychlo`s. Cf. AS. m[=u]l, fr. L. mulus. Cf. Mulatto.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny. Note: Mules are much used as draught animals. They are hardy, and proverbial for stubbornness. 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. 3. A very stubborn person. 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. Mule armadillo (Zo["o]l.), a long-eared armadillo (Tatusia hybrida), native of Buenos Aires; -- called also mulita. See Illust. under Armadillo. Mule deer (Zo["o]l.), a large deer ({Cervus, or 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.

Mule-jenny \Mule"-jen`ny\, n. See Mule, 4.

look up a word or phrase