Mule

(Heb. pered), so called from the quick step of the animal or its power of carrying loads. It is not probable that the Hebrews bred mules, as this was strictly forbidden in the law (Lev. 19:19), although their use was not forbidden. We find them in common use even by kings and nobles (2 Sam. 18:9; 1 Kings 1:33; 2 Kings 5:17; Ps. 32:9). They are not mentioned, however, till the time of David, for the word rendered “mules” (R.V. correctly, “hot springs”) in Gen. 36:24 (yemim) properly denotes the warm springs of Callirhoe, on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. In David’s reign they became very common (2 Sam. 13:29; 1 Kings 10:25). Mules are not mentioned in the New Testament. Perhaps they had by that time ceased to be used in Palestine.

a hybrid animal, the offspring of a horse and an ass. “The mule is smaller than the horse, and is a remarkably hardy, patient, obstinate, sure-footed animal, living, ordinarily, twice as long as a horse.”—McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia. It was forbidden to the Israelites to breed mules, but sometimes they imported them. It would appear that only kings and great men rode on mules. We do not read of mules at all in the New Testament; perhaps therefore they had ceased to be imported.

MULE, the name of the offspring of the horse and the ass. 2 Sam 13:29. It is smaller than the former, and is a remarkably hardy, patient, obstinate, sure-footed animal, living ordinarily twice as long as a horse. Mules are much used in Spain and South America for transporting goods across the mountains. So also in the Alps they are used by travellers among the mountains where a horse would hardly be able to pass with safety. In the United States mules are much used for draught. Even the kings and most distinguished nobles of the Jews were accustomed to ride upon mules. See passage above cited, and also 2 Sam 18:9; 1 Kgs 1:33; 1 Kgs 10:25; 1 Kgs 18:5; 2 Chr 9:24; Esth 8:10, 2 Kgs 22:14. It is probable that the Jews purchased, but did not raise, mules. Lev 19:19.

MULE, the name of the offspring of the horse and the ass. 2 Sam 13:29. It is smaller than the former, and is a remarkably hardy, patient, obstinate, sure-footed animal, living ordinarily twice as long as a horse. Mules are much used in Spain and South America for transporting goods across the mountains. So also in the Alps they are used by travellers among the mountains where a horse would hardly be able to pass with safety. In the United States mules are much used for draught. Even the kings and most distinguished nobles of the Jews were accustomed to ride upon mules. See passage above cited, and also 2 Sam 18:9; 1 Kgs 1:33; 1 Kgs 10:25; 1 Kgs 18:5; 2 Chr 9:24; Esth 8:10, 2 Kgs 22:14. It is probable that the Jews purchased, but did not raise, mules. Lev 19:19.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny.

2. A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; -- called also hybrid.

3. A very stubborn person.

4. A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; -- called also jenny and mule-jenny. Mule armadillo (Zoöl.), a long-eared armadillo (Tatusia hybrida), native of Buenos Ayres; -- called also mulita. See Illust. under Armadillo. -- Mule deer (Zoöl.), a large deer (Cervus, or Cariacus, macrotis) of the Western United States. The name refers to its long ears. -- Mule pulley (Mach.), an idle pulley for guiding a belt which transmits motion between shafts that are not parallel. -- Mule twist, cotton yarn in cops, as spun on a mule; -- in distinction from yarn spun on a throstle frame.