tit·mouse / ˈtitˌmous/ • n. (pl. titmice / -ˌmīs/ ) a small songbird (Parus and other genera, familyParidae) that searches acrobatically for insects among foliage and branches. Its numerous species include the chickadees and the tufted titmouse (P. bicolor).

titmouse (tit, chickadee) Small, stubby-bodied and large-headed bird of open woodlands and wooded parks of the Northern Hemisphere and Africa. Most true titmice nest in self-drilled holes or abandoned woodpecker holes. Family Paridae; genus Parus. The long-tailed titmice and bush tits of Eurasia and w North America are larger and build closed, often hanging, nests. Subfamily Aegithalinae.

titmouse small bird of the genus Parus. XIV. ME. titmōse. f. TIT2 + mōse, OE. māse = MLG., MDu. mēse (Du. mess), OHG. meisa (G. meise) :- WGmc. *maisōn (cf. ON. meisingr). Alt. XVI by assoc. with MOUSE.

titmouse See TITS.