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musher

[ muhsh-er ]

noun

, Alaska and Northern Canada.
  1. a person who competes in cross-country races with dog team and sled.


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Word History and Origins

Origin of musher1

First recorded in 1895–1900; mush 2 + -er 1
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Example Sentences

All three mushers withdrew from the competition, pursuant to race rules.

The Iditarod started March 2 for 38 mushers with a ceremonial run in Anchorage, followed by the competitive start on March 3 in Willow, about 75 miles north of Anchorage.

Race rules require any big game animal killed in defense of life or property to be gutted before the musher moves on.

A second dog, George, a 4-year-old male on musher Hunter Keefe’s team, also collapsed and died despite attempts to revive him, a race statement said.

A statement from the Iditarod said it had “been determined that the animal was not sufficiently gutted by the musher.”

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More About Musher

What does musher mean?

A musher is a person who steers a dogsled led by sled dogs.

The term is especially used to refer to a person who does this to compete in a sled dog race, such as a cross-country race like the Iditarod.

The word musher is most commonly used in Alaska and Canada, where sled dog racing is more common.

Example: The prize goes to the musher, but it is the sled dogs that are the true champions.

Where does musher come from?

The first records of the word musher come from the 1890s. It’s based on the word mush, which is first recorded around the same time. As a verb, mush means “to drive or travel with a sled dog team.” In this context, mush is probably best known as the command that the musher gives to the dogs to tell them to go (much like giddyup is used with horses).

Mush was perhaps originally used in the verb phrase mush on, which comes from the French Canadian term marchons, meaning “let’s go.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to musher?

  • mush (verb, interjection)

What are some synonyms for musher?

What are some words that share a root or word element with musher

What are some words that often get used in discussing musher?

How is musher used in real life?

The word musher is used in the context of dogsled racing.

Try using musher!

True or False?

Dogsleds are typically pulled by mushers.

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