mousse

blunt

Related: émousser

Originally from a dialect south of the Loire, from Vulgar Latin *muttius (compare Occitan mos), of Gaulish origin, or alternatively from Latin mutilus (compare Italian mozzo).

mousse is feminine in French.

moss (the plant); bryophyte (in the broad sense); foam; mousse (dessert)

Inherited from Old French mosse (“moss”), from Frankish *mosa (“moss”), from Proto-Germanic *musą (“moss”). For the culinary sense one might suspect influence by Dutch moes, German Mus (both “mush, purée”). However, the metaphorical use of mousse for “foam” is older and the culinary sense can thence be derived without difficulty.

mousse is masculine in French.

a boy serving on a ship: a cabin boy

Related: moussaillon

Borrowed from Spanish mozo.