muskellunge

[ muhs-kuh-luhnj ]

noun

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

1. a large game fish, Esox masquinongy, of the pike family, found in the lakes and rivers of the eastern and central United States and and in Canada from Quebec to Manitoba.

muskellunge

/ ˈmæskəˌlɒndʒ; ˈmʌskəˌlʌndʒ; ˈmæskəˌnɒndʒ /

noun

1. a large North American freshwater game fish, Esox masquinongy: family Esocidae (pikes, etc) Often (informal) shortened tomuskymuskie

Word History and Origins

Origin of muskellunge¹

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90; earlier muskinunge, masquenongez ( French spelling), etc., from Canadian French maskinongé from Ojibwe ma·skino·ŝe·, ma·ŝkino·ŝe· (equivalent to unattested Proto-Algonquian mya·ŝi “similar to, kind of” + *kenweŝye·wa “northern pike”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of muskellunge¹

C18: maskinunga, of Algonquian origin; compare Ojibwa mashkinonge big pike

Example Sentences

Now, there are more than 70 species including smallmouth bass, northern pike and muskellunge.

From Seattle Times

An angler in Maryland set the state’s first fishing record of 2022 in early March when he reeled in a 33-pound, 49-inch muskellunge, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

From Washington Times

Based on popularity, the station narrowed the list down to the walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie muskellunge and goldfish.

From Washington Times

An Iowa man has officially broken a Minnesota state record after catching and releasing a 57 1/4-inch, 47-pound muskellunge in August.

From Fox News

State officials eradicated muskellunge from the Kenai Peninsula and worked with geneticists in Wisconsin and Minnesota to trace the fish back to the Midwest, Dunker said.

From Seattle Times