Defn: A genus of dipterous insects, including the common house fly, and numerous allied species.
Note: Formerly, a large part of the Diptera were included under the genus Musca.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A small constellation situated between the Southern Cross and the Pole. Muscæ volitantes (. Etym: [L., flying flies.] (Med.) Specks or filaments apparently seen moving or glinding about in the field of vision. Their appearance is often a symptom of disease of the eye, or of disorder of the nervous system.
MUSCADEL Mus"ca*del`, n. Etym: [It. moscadello, moscatello, LL. muscatellum or muscadellum (sc. vinum), fr. muscatellus nutmeglike, dim. of muscatus smelling like musk, muscatum and muscata (sc. nux) nutmeg: cf. F. muscadelle, fr. Italian. See Musk and cf. Moschatel, Muscardin, Muscat, Nutmeg.]
Defn: See Muscatel, n.
Quaffed off the muscadel. Shak.
MUSCADINE
Mus"ca*dine, n. Etym: [See Muscadel.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several very different kinds of grapes, but in America used chiefly for the scuppernong, or southern fox grape, which is said to be the parent stock of the Catawba. See Grapevine.
2. (Bot.)