Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A large semiaquatic rodent (Ondatra zibethicus) native to North America and naturalized in Eurasia, having a dense brown coat and musk glands under a broad flat tail.
- noun The fur of this rodent.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A large murine rodent quadruped, Fiber zibethicus, of the family Muridœ and subfamily Arvicolinœ: so called from its musky odor.
- noun An insectivorous animal of musky odor likened to a rat, such as the European desman, Mygale pyrenaica, and the Indian musk-shrew or rat-tailed shrew, Sorex indicus or Crocidura myosura, also called
Indian muskrat and monjourou. - noun A viverrine quadruped, the South African genet, Genetta felina.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Zoöl.) A North American aquatic fur-bearing rodent (
Ondatra zibethica formerlyFiber zibethicus ). It resembles a rat in color and having a long scaly tail, but the tail is compressed, the hind feet are webbed, and the ears are concealed in the fur. It has scent glands which secrete a substance having a strong odor of musk. Called alsomusquash ,musk beaver ,ondatra , and sometimeswater rat . - noun (Zoöl.) The musk shrew.
- noun (Zoöl.) The desman.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A large
aquatic rodent ; Ondatra zibethicus.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the brown fur of a muskrat
- noun beaver-like aquatic rodent of North America with dark glossy brown fur
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word muskrat.
Examples
-
This miller had shot an animal they call a muskrat, the skin of which we saw hanging up to dry.
Journal of Jasper Danckaerts, 1679-1680 Jasper Danckaerts 1898
-
Our muskrat is a trapped and drowned one so we will not have to replace the shot hole plugs with fresh ones, as would be best if it had been killed with the gun.
Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit A Guide for Those Who Wish to Prepare and Mount Animals, Birds, Fish, Reptiles, etc., for Home, Den, or Office Decoration Albert B. Farnham
-
Not a raccoon nor a muskrat is the wayfarer likely to meet with here to-night; but the gray rat of civilization is to be dimly discerned, as he lopes along the gutters in his nightly prowl.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 121, November, 1867 Various
-
The muskrat is a skilled engineer, and delights in tunnelling.
The Human Side of Animals Royal Dixon 1923
-
The muskrat was a very good swimmer, indeed, and as soon as she reached the water she plunged in and swam about, to show Sammie and Susie how it ought to be done.
Sammie and Susie Littletail Howard Roger Garis 1917
-
In the Baltimore markets four kinds of terrapin are sold -- not counting muskrat, which is sometimes disguised with sauce and sherry and served as a substitute.
American Adventures A Second Trip 'Abroad at home' Julian Street 1913
-
I am more than half persuaded that the muskrat is a wise little animal, and that on the subject of the weather, especially, he possesses some secret that I should be glad to know.
The Writings of John Burroughs — Volume 05: Pepacton John Burroughs 1879
-
I am more than half persuaded that the muskrat is a wise little animal, and that on the subject of the weather, especially, he possesses some secret that I should be glad to know.
Birds and Bees, Sharp Eyes and Other Papers John Burroughs 1879
-
He is called muskrat, from his resemblance to the common rat, combined with the musky odour which he emits from glands situated near the anus.
The Hunters' Feast Conversations Around the Camp Fire Mayne Reid 1850
-
Part of the year the muskrat is a social animal; at other seasons it is solitary.
The Hunters' Feast Conversations Around the Camp Fire Mayne Reid 1850
chained_bear commented on the word muskrat
A large semiaquatic rodent, Ondatra zibethicus (family Muridae), with a laterally flattened tail, found in lakes, rivers, and wetlands throughout much of North America and (as naturalized populations) in Europe and Asia, and highly valued for its fur. Also called musquash.
The muskrat has perineal glands that produce a musky secretion.
February 5, 2007