The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Mousing \Mous"ing\, n. 1. The act of hunting mice. [1913 Webster] 2. (Naut.) A turn or lashing of spun yarn or small stuff, or a metallic clasp or fastening, uniting the point and shank of a hook to prevent its unhooking or straighening out. [1913 Webster] 3. A ratchet movement in a loom. [1913 Webster] Mousing hook, a hook with an attachment which prevents its unhooking. [1913 Webster]