mule

mule¹

/myoohl/, n.

1. the sterile offspring of a female horse and a male donkey, valued as a work animal, having strong muscles, a body shaped like a horse, and donkeylike long ears, small feet, and sure-footedness. Cf. hinny¹.

2. any hybrid between the donkey and the horse.

3. Informal. a very stubborn person.

4. Bot. any sterile hybrid.

5. Slang. a person paid to carry or transport contraband, esp. drugs, for a smuggler.

6. a small locomotive used for pulling rail cars, as in a coal yard or on an industrial site, or for towing, as of ships through canal locks.

7. Also called spinning mule. a machine for spinning cotton or other fibers into yarn and winding the yarn on spindles.

8. Naut. a large triangular staysail set between two masts and having its clew set well aft.

9. Numis. a hybrid coin having the obverse of one issue and the reverse of the succeeding issue, or vice versa.

10. Biol. a hybrid, esp. one between the canary and some other finch.

[bef. 1000; ME < OF < L mula mule (fem.); r. OE mul < L mulus (masc.)]

mule²

/myoohl/, n.

1. a lounging slipper that covers the toes and instep or only the instep.

2. a woman's shoe resembling this.

[1350-1400; ME: sore spot on the heel, chilblain, perh. < MD mule]

* * *

Offspring of a male ass and a female horse.

The less common cross of a female ass and a male horse is called a hinny. Most mules are sterile. The mule resembles the horse in height and in shape of neck and croup (rump); it resembles the ass in its long ears, small hooves, and short mane. The coat is usually brown or bay. Mules are 12–17.5 hands (50–70 in., 120–180 cm) high and weigh 600–1,500 lbs (275–700 kg). They have been used as pack animals for at least 3,000 years because of their ability to withstand hardships.

* * *

▪ mammal

      the hybrid offspring of a male ass (jackass, or jack) and a female horse (mare). The less-frequent cross between a female ass and a male horse results in a hinny, or hinney, which is smaller than a mule. Mules were beasts of burden in Asia Minor at least 3,000 years ago and are still used today in many parts of the world because of their ability to withstand hardships and perform work under conditions too severe for many other draft and pack animals. Mules are usually sterile.

      The mule resembles the horse in height, uniformity of coat, and shape of neck and croup. It resembles the ass in its short, thick head, long ears, thin limbs, small hooves, and short mane. The coat is usually brown or bay. In size, mules range widely from about 12 to 17.5 hands (120 to 180 cm, or 50 to 70 inches) in height and from 275 to 700 kg (600 to 1,500 pounds) in weight.

* * *