musher

American  

[muhsh-er] / ˈmʌʃ ər /

noun

Alaska and Northern Canada.

1. a person who competes in cross-country races with dog team and sled.

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Usage

What does musher mean? A musher is a person who steers a dogsled led by sled dogs.The term is especially used to refer to a person who does this to compete in a sled dog race, such as a cross-country race like the Iditarod.The word musher is most commonly used in Alaska and Canada, where sled dog racing is more common.Example: The prize goes to the musher, but it is the sled dogs that are the true champions.

Etymology

Origin of musher

First recorded in 1895–1900; mush ² + -er ¹

Example Sentences

All three mushers withdrew from the competition, pursuant to race rules.

From Seattle Times

Seven mushers dropped out of the race this year.

From Seattle Times

Race rules require any big game animal killed in defense of life or property to be gutted before the musher moves on.

From Seattle Times

A second dog, George, a 4-year-old male on musher Hunter Keefe’s team, also collapsed and died despite attempts to revive him, a race statement said.

From Seattle Times

A statement from the Iditarod said it had “been determined that the animal was not sufficiently gutted by the musher.”

From Seattle Times