subs. (American).—1. Confusion; a fuss. See quot. 1859.
1848. W. E. BURTON, Waggeries and Vagaries, p. 25. They soon raised a pretty MUSS, and kept on tearin’ at each other like a pack o’ wolves.
1848. DURIVAGE, Stray Subjects, p. 138. You’re eternally kicking up A MUSS with somebody!
1848. W. T. THOMPSON, Major Jones’s Sketches of Travel, p. 9. We’re all in a MUSS now gettin’ ready for the journey.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. MUSS. A quarrel; a row.
1888. Texas Siftings, 18 Aug. ‘Raw oysters for two, mister.’ ‘Yes, sir—have ’em in the shell?’ ‘Yes, John, if you think you kin open ’em ’thout makin’ a MUSS.’
2. (old).—A term of endearment. [Probably from MOUSE.]
1598. JONSON, Every Man in his Humour, ii. 3. Dame K. What ail you, sweetheart? Are you not well? Speak, good MUSS.
Verb. (American).—To confuse; to disorder; to mess-up.
