# Mickey Mouse

> English word · Proper noun

## Definitions
1. The most famous Disney cartoon character, an anthropomorphic mouse with a falsetto voice and a cheerful disposition.

## Etymology
From Mickey, a diminutive of the given name Michael, + mouse, referring to the species of the character. Walt Disney chose the name Mickey Mouse in 1928, changing it from Mortimer Mouse at the suggestion of his wife, Lillian, who felt the original name was too formal for the character's playful nature.
The derogatory adjectival sense developed in the US after WWII, originally applied to dance music, then broadened.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/mickey-mouse