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

In an hour Ethan returned to the shore with a large muskellunge and half a dozen large lake trout.

From Project Gutenberg

Once a twenty pound muskellunge had been caught, and bass were plentiful.

From Project Gutenberg