muskrat

[ muhsk-rat ]

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

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Origin of muskrat

1
1680–90, Americanism; alteration, by folk etymology, of musquash

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British Dictionary definitions for muskrat

muskrat

/ (ˈmʌskˌræt) /


nounplural -rats or -rat
  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

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

Origin of muskrat

1
C17: by folk etymology, from the same source as musquash
  • Often (informal) shortened to: musquash

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