Moose and mousse are two words that are pronounced in the same manner but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. We will examine the definitions of moose and mousse, where these words came from and some examples of their use in sentences.
A moose is a large animal with antlers that is found in the northern forests of America, Europe, and Asia. It is of the deer family. The plural form is moose, not mooses or meese. The word moose is derived from the Algonquian language, probably from the Eastern Abnaki word, mos.
A mousse is a culinary dish that is whipped with egg white and cream, making it light and smooth. Mousse may be sweet or savory, served as a side dish, main dish or dessert. Today, the term mousse is often applied to makeup and hair products. The word mousse is a borrowed or loan word, taken from the Old French mousse meaning froth. Borrowed words and loan words are terms that have been taken from other languages and used as English words and phrases.
Examples
An Irasburg man pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to multiple charges in connection with what game wardens called a “heinous” act of shooting a cow moose out of season and dragging her carcass through Barton in Sept. 23. (The Caledonian Record)
That’s a fact a pair of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists are learning as they follow three different populations of moose as a part of the state’s first-ever study focused on population dynamics of the largest member of the deer family. (The Missoulian)
Not only is the mousse a snap to prepare, it’s extremely versatile — elegant enough for a fancy party and simple enough for a fireside dinner. (The Virgin Island Daily News)
I had already been through a highly curated selection of texturizing sprays, dry shampoos, and salt mists in an effort to raise my roots and get a bit of bend through my ends, when Ferretti introduced me to an unexpected relic of hairstyling past that he insisted would give my hair its groove back: mousse. (Vogue Magazine)
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