Moss \Moss\ (m[o^]s; 115), n. [OE. mos; akin to AS. me['o]s, D. mos, G. moos, OHG. mos, mios, Icel. mosi, Dan. mos, Sw. mossa, Russ. mokh', L. muscus. Cf. {Muscoid}.] 1. (Bot.) A cryptogamous plant of a cellular structure, with distinct stem and simple leaves. The fruit is a small capsule usually opening by an apical lid, and so discharging the spores. There are many species, collectively termed Musci, growing on the earth, on rocks, and trunks of trees, etc., and a few in running water.
Note: The term moss is also popularly applied to many other small cryptogamic plants, particularly lichens, species of which are called tree moss, rock moss, coral moss, etc. Fir moss and club moss are of the genus {Lycopodium}. See {Club moss}, under {Club}, and {Lycopodium}.
2. A bog; a morass; a place containing peat; as, the mosses of the Scottish border.
Note: Moss is used with participles in the composition of words which need no special explanation; as, moss-capped, moss-clad, moss-covered, moss-grown, etc.
{Black moss}. See under {Black}, and {Tillandsia}.
{Bog moss}. See {Sphagnum}.
{Feather moss}, any moss branched in a feathery manner, esp. several species of the genus {Hypnum}.
{Florida moss}, {Long moss}, or {Spanish moss}. See {Tillandsia}.
{Iceland moss}, a lichen. See {Iceland Moss}.
{Irish moss}, a seaweed. See {Carrageen}.
{Moss agate} (Min.), a variety of agate, containing brown, black, or green mosslike or dendritic markings, due in part to oxide of manganese. Called also {Mocha stone}.
{Moss animal} (Zo["o]l.), a bryozoan.
{Moss berry} (Bot.), the small cranberry ({Vaccinium Oxycoccus}).
{Moss campion} (Bot.), a kind of mosslike catchfly ({Silene acaulis}), with mostly purplish flowers, found on the highest mountains of Europe and America, and within the Arctic circle.
{Moss land}, land produced accumulation of aquatic plants, forming peat bogs of more or less consistency, as the water is grained off or retained in its pores.
{Moss pink} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {Phlox} ({Phlox subulata}), growing in patches on dry rocky hills in the Middle United States, and often cultivated for its handsome flowers. --Gray.
{Moss rose} (Bot.), a variety of rose having a mosslike growth on the stalk and calyx. It is said to be derived from the Provence rose.
{Moss rush} (Bot.), a rush of the genus {Juncus} ({Juncus squarrosus}).
{Scale moss}. See {Hepatica}.
Moss \Moss\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mossed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mossing}.] To cover or overgrow with moss.
An oak whose boughs were mossed with age. --Shak.
And until recently, perfumers have imported much of their oak moss and lavender from the former Yugoslavia and many of the resinous fragrances from Somalia.
Better yet, two prospective customers phone to say they are finally ready to deal for face masks and peat moss.
Listening to "The Banks of Green Willow" is like walking on layers and layers of springy moss.
"It looks a lot better than last week," Robbins said after viewing the area, which was cleaned with peat moss and absorbent pads.
The key to mushroom production is rich, black soil blended from decomposed straw, manure, protein and peat moss.
Just across the tracks from the antebellum charm of historic St. Marys, where old oaks drip Spanish moss, a new nuclear submarine base is changing the face of the countryside with shopping malls and low-cost housing.
"Sphagnum moss is still used locally by primitive people for diapers and menstrual pads and as recently as World War I was a component of many surgical dressings."
Across the street, people had to side-step broken tree limbs tangled in Spanish moss.
Brushes are used to scrub off moss, insect nests and clinging vegetation, the latter sometimes requiring injections of weed killer in a syringe.
More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Finns used saunas made of sticks, moss and mud.
Robert Hodges of Baton Rouge, La., not only rescued a derelict house and moved it to a new lot but resurrected the forgotten craft of bousillage to recreate authentic walls of mud and Spanish moss.
However, nearby trees, moss or bad air circulation can greatly reduce this figure. 'Thatching still comes back to skill and experience,' Bardsley said.
Today the shamrock emblem adorns everything from the national airline to bags of peat moss fertilizer.
In the meantime, city residents can console themselves that at least the moss does not seem to mind. Next week's article will focus on Athens.