Shrew \Shrew\, n. [See Shrew, a.]
   1. Originally, a brawling, turbulent, vexatious person of
      either sex, but now restricted in use to females; a
      brawler; a scold.
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            A man . . . grudgeth that shrews [i. e., bad men]
            have prosperity, or else that good men have
            adversity.                            --Chaucer.
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            A man had got a shrew to his wife, and there could
            be no quiet in the house for her.     --L'Estrange.
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   2. [AS. scre['a]wa; -- so called because supposed to be
      venomous. ] (Zool.) Any small insectivore of the genus
      Sorex and several allied genera of the family
      Sorecidae. In form and color they resemble mice, but
      they have a longer and more pointed nose. Some of them are
      the smallest of all mammals.
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   Note: The common European species are the house shrew
         (Crocidura araneus), and the erd shrew (Sorex
         vulgaris) (see under Erd.). In the United States
         several species of Sorex and Blarina are common, as
         the broadnosed shrew (Sorex platyrhinus), Cooper's
         shrew (Sorex Cooperi), and the short-tailed, or mole,
         shrew (Blarina brevicauda). Th American water, or
         marsh, shrew (Neosorex palustris), with fringed feet,
         is less common. The common European water shrews are
         Crossopus fodiens, and the oared shrew (see under
         Oared).
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   Earth shrew, any shrewlike burrowing animal of the family
      Centetidae, as the tendrac.

   Elephant shrew, Jumping shrew, Mole shrew. See under
      Elephant, Jumping, etc.

   Musk shrew. See Desman.

   River shrew, an aquatic West African insectivore
      (Potamogale velox) resembling a weasel in form and size,
      but having a large flattened and crested tail adapted for
      rapid swimming. It feeds on fishes.

   Shrew mole, a common large North American mole (Scalops
      aquaticus). Its fine, soft fur is gray with iridescent
      purple tints.
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Mole \Mole\, n. [OE. molle, either shortened fr. moldwerp, or
   from the root of E. mold soil: cf. D. mol, OD. molworp. See
   Moldwarp.]
   1. (Zool.) Any insectivore of the family Talpidae. They
      have minute eyes and ears, soft fur, and very large and
      strong fore feet.
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   Note: The common European mole, or moldwarp (Talpa
         Europaea), is noted for its extensive burrows. The
         common American mole, or shrew mole (Scalops
         aquaticus), and star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata)
         have similar habits.
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   Note: In the Scriptures, the name is applied to two
         unindentified animals, perhaps the chameleon and mole
         rat.
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   2. A plow of peculiar construction, for forming underground
      drains. [U.S.]
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   3. (fig.)A spy who lives for years an apparently normal life
      (to establish a cover) before beginning his spying
      activities.
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   Duck mole. See under Duck.

   Golden mole. See Chrysochlore.

   Mole cricket (Zool.), an orthopterous insect of the genus
      Gryllotalpa, which excavates subterranean galleries, and
      throws up mounds of earth resembling those of the mole. It
      is said to do damage by injuring the roots of plants. The
      common European species (Gryllotalpa vulgaris), and the
      American (Gryllotalpa borealis), are the best known.

   Mole rat (Zool.), any one of several species of Old World
      rodents of the genera Spalax, Georychus, and several
      allied genera. They are molelike in appearance and habits,
      and their eyes are small or rudimentary.

   Mole shrew (Zool.), any one of several species of
      short-tailed American shrews of the genus Blarina, esp.
      Blarina brevicauda.

   Water mole, the duck mole.
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