muskrat

[ muhsk-rat ]
/ ˈmʌskˌræt /

noun, plural musk·rats, (especially collectively) musk·rat.

a large, aquatic, North American rodent, Ondatra zibethica, having a musky odor.
its thick, light-brown fur, used for coats, for hats, as a trimming, etc.

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a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Origin of muskrat

1680–90, Americanism; alteration, by folk etymology, of musquash

Words nearby muskrat

muskmelon, muskogean, muskogee, muskone, muskox, muskrat, musky, muslem, muslim, muslim brothers, society of the, muslim calendar
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Example sentences from the Web for muskrat

British Dictionary definitions for muskrat

muskrat
/ (ˈmʌskˌræt) /

noun plural -rats or -rat

a North American beaver-like amphibious rodent, Ondatra zibethica, closely related to but larger than the voles: family Cricetidae
the brown fur of this animal
either of two closely related rodents, Ondatra obscurus or Neofiber alleni (round-tailed muskrat)
Often (informal) shortened to: musquash

Word Origin for muskrat

C17: by folk etymology, from the same source as musquash
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