muskrat

American  

[muhsk-rat] / ˈmʌskˌræt /

noun

plural

muskrats,

plural

muskrat

1. a large, aquatic, North American rodent, Ondatra zibethica, having a musky odor.

2. its thick, light-brown fur, used for coats, for hats, as a trimming, etc.

---

muskrat British  

/ ˈmʌskˌræt /

noun

1. a North American beaver-like amphibious rodent, Ondatra zibethica, closely related to but larger than the voles: family Cricetidae

2. the brown fur of this animal

3. either of two closely related rodents, Ondatra obscurus or Neofiber alleni ( round-tailed muskrat )

---

Etymology

Origin of muskrat

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

Compare meaning

How does muskrat compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mink vs. muskrat

Example Sentences

While these mussels are not harvested for human consumption, larger species, like waterbirds, raccoons, muskrats and otters, regularly eat freshwater mussels, meaning the contamination could pass up the food chain, Pankratz said.

From Science Daily

Mussels help the ecosystem in other ways, too: Their beds make a good habitat for insects, and the mussels are a food source for muskrats and otters.

From Washington Post

Likewise, muskrats, which have a lot of fur on their ears, are often misidentified as beavers, which don’t.

From New York Times

The most popular mullet of today isn’t the spiky Bowie version or the luxurious muskrat look from “Joe Dirt.”

From Los Angeles Times

But they are quick and agile, and their prey can include everything from fish and rabbits to birds and muskrats.

From New York Times