jumping shrew

2 definitions found

jumping shrew - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Shrew \Shrew\, n. [See Shrew, a.]
     1. Originally, a brawling, turbulent, vexatious person of
        either sex, but now restricted in use to females; a
        brawler; a scold.
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              A man . . . grudgeth that shrews [i. e., bad men]
              have prosperity, or else that good men have
              adversity.                            --Chaucer.
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              A man had got a shrew to his wife, and there could
              be no quiet in the house for her.     --L'Estrange.
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     2. [AS. scre['a]wa; -- so called because supposed to be
        venomous. ] (Zool.) Any small insectivore of the genus
        Sorex and several allied genera of the family
        Sorecidae. In form and color they resemble mice, but
        they have a longer and more pointed nose. Some of them are
        the smallest of all mammals.
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     Note: The common European species are the house shrew
           (Crocidura araneus), and the erd shrew (Sorex vulgaris
           ) (see under Erd.). In the United States
           several species of Sorex and Blarina are common, as
           the broadnosed shrew (Sorex platyrhinus), Cooper's
           shrew (Sorex Cooperi), and the short-tailed, or mole,
           shrew (Blarina brevicauda). Th American water, or
           marsh, shrew (Neosorex palustris), with fringed feet,
           is less common. The common European water shrews are
           Crossopus fodiens, and the oared shrew (see under
           Oared).
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     Earth shrew, any shrewlike burrowing animal of the family
        Centetidae, as the tendrac.
  
     Elephant shrew, Jumping shrew, Mole shrew. See under
        Elephant, Jumping, etc.
  
     Musk shrew. See Desman.
  
     River shrew, an aquatic West African insectivore
        (Potamogale velox) resembling a weasel in form and size,
        but having a large flattened and crested tail adapted for
        rapid swimming. It feeds on fishes.
  
     Shrew mole, a common large North American mole (Scalops  aquaticus
        ). Its fine, soft fur is gray with iridescent
        purple tints.
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  Jumping \Jump"ing\, p. a. & vb. n.
     of Jump, to leap.
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     Jumping bean, a seed of a Mexican Euphorbia, containing
        the larva of a moth (Carpocapsa saltitans). The larva by
        its sudden movements causes the seed to roll to roll and
        jump about.
  
     Jumping deer (Zool.), a South African rodent (Pedetes  Caffer
        ), allied to the jerboa.
  
     Jumping louse (Zool.), any of the numerous species of plant
        lice belonging to the family Psyllid[ae], several of
        which are injurious to fruit trees.
  
     Jumping mouse (Zool.), North American mouse (Zapus  Hudsonius
        ), having a long tail and large hind legs. It is
        noted for its jumping powers. Called also kangaroo  mouse
        .
  
     Jumping mullet (Zool.), gray mullet.
  
     Jumping shrew (Zool.), any African insectivore of the genus
        Macroscelides. They are allied to the shrews, but have
        large hind legs adapted for jumping.
  
     Jumping spider (Zool.), spider of the genus Salticus and
        other related genera; one of the Saltigrad[ae]; -- so
        called because it leaps upon its prey.
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