muck

I. noun Etymology: Middle English muk, perhaps from Old English -moc; akin to Old Norse myki dung Date: 13th century 1. soft moist farmyard manure 2. slimy dirt or filth 3. a. defamatory remarks or writings b. rubbish, nonsense <

mindless muck

> 4. a. (1) dark highly organic soil (2) mire, mud b. something resembling muck ; gunk 5. material removed in the process of excavating or mining • mucky adjective II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to clean up; especially to clear of manure or filth — usually used with out b. to clear of muck 2. to dress (as soil) with muck 3. to dirty with or as if with muck ; soil intransitive verb 1. to move or load muck (as in a mine) 2. a. to engage in aimless activity — usually used with about or around b. putter, tinker — usually used with about or around <

mucking around with his computer

> c. interfere, meddle — usually used with about or around • mucker noun