מִשְׁמֵשׁ (v. מוּשׁ, מָשַׁשׁ)to touch, feel; to handle, manipulate; to examine, search. B. Mets. 21ᵇ אדם עשוי למַשְׁמֵשׁ בכיסו וכ׳ a person (carrying money with him on the road) usually feels for his bag at short intervals. Men. 36ᵃ מְמַשְׁמֵשׁ בהן he puts his hand on them. Erub. 54ᵇ top כל זמן שאדם ממשמש בה as often as one searches it (the figtree); כ"ז שהתינוק ממשמש בו as often as the suckling touches the breasts. Sabb. 82ᵃ יְמַשְׁמֵשׁ בצרור וכ׳ let him manipulate (stimulate the rectum) with pebbles. Erub. 13ᵇ ימשמש במעשיו let him examine what he is doing, contrad. to יפשפש search (investigate) his past doings. Keth. 12ᵃ למַשְׁמֵשׁ את וכ׳ to be around (watch) the bridegroom and bride (in order to prevent deception). Snh. 63ᵇ מְמַשְׁמְשִׁין בהן they (the famished animals) licked them (begging for food); a. fr.—מ׳ ובא to come gropingly, slowly. Y. Peah VIII, beg. 20ᵈ, v. מוּשׁ h.—Y. Ned. III, 38ᵃ ראה … ממשמשין ובאין if he saw the king’s cutters come near and nearer, v. קָצוֹעַ; ib. ראה דליקה מְמַשְׁמֶשֶׁת ובאה if he saw the fire coming near and nearer.
Pulpel. - מוּשְׁמָשׁ to be attended to, watched. Keth. l. c. כל שלא מ׳ when he was not watched.