n.
- a band of fibrous tissue in the body that has the ability to contract, producing movement in or maintaining the position of a part of the body.
- physical power.
▸political or economic power.
v.
informal -
(muscle in/into)
force one's way into (another's affairs).
- chiefly N. Amer. move (an object) by use of physical strength.
Derivative
- -muscled adj.
- muscleless adj.
- muscly adj.
(musclier, muscliest)
.
Etymology
ME: from Fr., from L. musculus, dimin. of mus ‘mouse’ (some muscles being thought to be mouse-like in form).