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.

muskrat

/ ˈmʌskˌræt /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of muskrat¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of muskrat¹

C17: by folk etymology, from the same source as musquash

Example Sentences

While these mussels are not harvested for human consumption, larger species, like waterbirds, raccoons, muskrats and otters, regularly eat freshwater mussels, meaning the contamination could pass up the food chain, Pankratz said.

From Science Daily

Aquatic species such as muskrat and beaver, which can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes, will take that long to drown in underwater sets.

From Washington Post

Mussels help the ecosystem in other ways, too: Their beds make a good habitat for insects, and the mussels are a food source for muskrats and otters.

From Washington Post

Likewise, muskrats, which have a lot of fur on their ears, are often misidentified as beavers, which don’t.

From New York Times

In February 1957, a young man hunting muskrats in a park north of Philadelphia chanced upon the badly beaten corpse of a young boy discarded in a cardboard box near the side of the road.

From Salon