muskellunge

[ muhs-kuh-luhnj ]
/ ˈmʌs kəˌlʌndʒ /

noun, plural mus·kel·lung·es, (especially collectively) mus·kel·lunge.

a large game fish, Esox masquinongy, of the pike family, found in the lakes and rivers of eastern and middle western North America.

QUIZZES

FOR POSTERITY’S SAKE, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Are words your bailiwick? Take the latest quiz on the words from July 6 to July 12 to find out.
Question 1 of 7
bailiwick
a creature, variously described as a serpent, lizard, or dragon, said to kill by its breath or look.
place or source of origin.
a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also maskalonge, maskinonge, muskallonge.

Origin of muskellunge

1780–90, Americanism; earlier muskinunge, masquenongez (French spelling), etc., < Canadian French maskinongé < Ojibwa ma·skino·ŝe·, ma·ŝkino·ŝe· (equivalent to Proto-Algonquian *mya·ŝi similar to, kind of + *kenweŝye·wa northern pike)

Words nearby muskellunge

muskallonge, muskeg, muskego, muskegon, muskegon heights, muskellunge, musket, musketeer, musketry, muskie, muskingum
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for muskellunge

  • Once a twenty pound muskellunge had been caught, and bass were plentiful.

    A Son of the City|Herman Gastrell Seely

British Dictionary definitions for muskellunge

muskellunge

maskalonge (ˈmæskəˌlɒndʒ) or maskanonge (ˈmæskəˌnɒndʒ)

/ (ˈmʌskəˌlʌndʒ) /

noun plural -lunges, -longes, -nonges, -lunge, -longe or -nonge

a large North American freshwater game fish, Esox masquinongy: family Esocidae (pikes, etc)Often (informal) shortened to: musky, muskie

Word Origin for muskellunge

C18: maskinunga, of Algonquian origin; compare Ojibwa mashkinonge big pike
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012