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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Origin of muskrat
1680–90, Americanism; alteration, by folk etymology, of musquash
Words nearby muskrat
Muskogean, Muskogee, musk orchid, muskox, musk plant, muskrat, musk rose, musk thistle, musk turtle, musky, Muslem
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
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
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