creep-mousen.adj.
A. n.† 1. A creeping mouse: a term of endearment.
ΚΠ
1540 J. Palsgrave tr. G. Gnapheus Comedye of Acolastus sig. Rija I con the thank my lyttell sparowe, or my pretye crepemous.
2. A nursery play with a child.
ΚΠ
1689 J. Carlile Fortune-hunters iii. i. 25 Not so old but I can play at creep Mouse yet; creep Mouse, creep, catch her.
B. adj.
[Compare breakneck.] That creeps like a mouse so as to escape notice; furtive, timid, shy.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > stealthy movement > [adjective]
creepinga1400
slyc1440
prowling1546
stealing1574
sneaking1590
cat-footed1598
soft-footed1603
surrepent1608
cat-likea1616
stealthya1616
grassant1659
sliving1661
creep-mouse1766
secret1768
slinking1841
pussy-footed1893
undercreeping1893
pussyfooting1926
slinky1951
1766 Goody Two-Shoes (1882) 58 Not seeing such a little creep-mouse Girl as Two-Shoes.
1814 J. Austen Mansfield Park I. xv. 304 You may be as creepmouse as you like, but we must have you to look at. View more context for this quotation
1860 R. W. Emerson Behaviour in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 163 Here are creep-mouse manners; and thievish manners.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.adj.1540