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Glite Dictionary
cotton mouse

cotton mouse

1 9.4
A large dark mouse that lives in woods and swamps in the southeastern United States
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : ratón algodonero
  • Have you ever seen a cotton mouse in the wild?

Examples

  • The cotton mouse is a fascinating creature.

  • Unlike the house mouse, the cotton mouse prefers outdoor habitats with dense cover.

  • Researchers captured several cotton mice for their ecological study.

  • The cotton mouse inhabits forests and swamps throughout the southeastern states.

  • The cotton mouse is often spotted foraging in the underbrush of wooded areas.

  • In the southeastern United States, the cotton mouse prefers habitats with ample cover from trees and shrubs.

  • Scientists study the cotton mouse to better understand its role in the local ecosystem.

Synonyms

Peromyscus gossypinus
vscotton mouse
  • Specialized
9.9

A large dark mouse from the southeastern United States that lives in forests and thickets

is the common name used for the same species rather than the scientific name

Surface Forms

cotton mouse singular
cotton mice plural

Morphology

cotton + mouse

This is a straightforward noun–noun compound where 'cotton' modifies 'mouse', so a B1 learner who knows both words will infer it denotes a kind or variety of mouse associated with cotton (e.g., found in cotton fields or linked to cotton). While the precise species-specific details (exact size, coloration, or geographic range) are not derivable from the parts, the basic meaning 'a type of mouse' is transparently composed from the constituents.

Etymology

Cotton mouse probably gets its name from old farms in the American South where people often saw these small mice living in 'cotton fields' or in bales of cotton. So the name links the animal to the cotton where it lived.