French

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Etymology

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From Middle French mesiraigne (16th c.), merisengne (15th c.), from Latin mūsarāneus, from Latin mūs (mouse) +‎ arāneus (spider-like). So called because the bite of many shrews (e.g. Neomys fodiens) is venomous. According to the Trésor informatisé, the word is a borrowing from Latin, but the Middle French forms look by no means learned and could well be inherited. The modern -u- may be a Latinate alteration, however.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /my.za.ʁɛɲ/
  • Audio (Paris):(file)
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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musaraigne f (plural musaraignes)

  1. shrew
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Further reading

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