what is the word muscle derived from
Word Origin and History for muscle Expand. n. late 14c., from Middle French muscle muscle, sinew (14c.) and directly from Latin musculus a muscle, literally little mouse, diminutive of mus mouse (see mouse (n.)). So called because the shape and movement of some muscles (notably biceps) were thought to resemble mice. The analogy was made in Greek, too, where mys is both mouse and muscle, and its comb. form gives the medical prefix myo-. In Middle English, lacerte, from the Latin word for lizard, also was used as a word for a muscle. Musclez & lacertez bene one selfe Ã¾ing, Bot Ã¾e muscle is said to Ã¾e fourme of mouse & lacert to Ã¾e fourme of a lizard.