muss
UK[mʌs]US[mʌs]
v
To make something untidy or messy.
n
A state of disorder or untidiness.
Etymology
The word 'muss' entered American English in the 19th century, its origins shrouded in some uncertainty. It is most convincingly traced as a variant of the common word 'mess', influenced by regional pronunciation. The core semantic concept of disorder and untidiness was inherited directly from 'mess'. Over time, 'muss' established itself, particularly in American usage, as a more informal synonym, often applied to the disarrangement of things like hair or clothing, carrying a connotation of slightly rumpled disorder rather than severe dirtiness.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It is a variant of the now-obsolete verb 'muss', which is of uncertain origin, possibly a dialectal variant of 'mess'.
Examples
Don't muss my hair, I just styled it.
The children's playroom was in a complete muss after the party.
He tried to smooth his jacket, which had gotten mussed in the crowded train.