MUTE

To cast off; to molt. Have I muted all my feathers Beau. & Fl.

To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. B. Jonson.

The dung of birds. Hudibras.

Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent. All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven. Milton.

Incapable of speaking; dumb. Dryden.

Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2.

Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal. Mute swan (Zoöl.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes.

One who does not speak, whether from physical inability, unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically:

One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute.

A person employed by undertakers at a funeral.

A person whose part in a play does not require him to speak.

Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak.

A letter which represents no sound; a silent letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t.

A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument, in order to deaden or soften the tone.