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desman

American

[des-muhn] / ˈdɛs mən /

noun

plural

desmans

either of two aquatic, insectivorous mammals, Myogale moschata, of southeastern Russia, or M. pyrenaica, of the Pyrenees, related to shrews.

desman British

/ ˈdɛsmən /

noun

either of two molelike amphibious mammals Desmana moschata ( Russian desman ) or Galemys pyrenaicus ( Pyrenean desman ), having dense fur and webbed feet: family Talpidae, order Insectivora (insectivores)

"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

Etymology

Origin of desman

1765–75; < Swedish, short for desman-råtta muskrat

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Pyrenean desman population has declined by about half since 2011, mainly because of human impacts on its river habitats, including hydropower plant, dam and reservoir construction and water extraction for agriculture.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2021

With its long sensitive nose and large webbed feet, it is one of only two remaining desman species in the world.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2021

Another of those highlighted in this update is the semi-aquatic Pyrenean desman, a mammal found only in rivers in Andorra, France, Portugal and Spain.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2021

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023