mouse
n.— «Meanwhile, the Stinebakers make no attempt to conceal the fact that the Thunderbird—at least to some devout worshippers of domestic vehicles—is sort of a sacrilegious Frankenstein machine. Inside the Ford body sits a Chevrolet small-block engine. The motor is known to enthusiasts as a “mouse”—big-blocks are known as “rats”—so a small rubber mouse serves as the car’s mascot. The Stinebakers also adorn the dashboard with a sign reading “Built Ford tough with Chevy stuff.”» —“Kicking’ It” by Daniel Pike State Journal-Register (Springfield, Illinois) Sept. 24, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Eels, orts, and Wordle! Sweden awarded its most prestigious literary award to a book about…eels. The Book of Eels reveals the mysterious life cycle of this sea creature and its significance for famous figures from Aristotle to Sigmund Freud. Plus...
Some people work hard to lose their accent in order to fit in. Others may be homesick for the voices they grew up with and try to reclaim them. How can you regain your old accent? Also, a compelling book about scientific taxonomy shows how humans...