muskrat
See also: musk-rat
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
Perhaps so called for its musky odour and because it resembles a rat, or perhaps called by an Algonquian name like the Abenaki moskwas, with the spelling altered under the influence of the English words musk and rat.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
muskrat (plural muskrats)
- A large aquatic rodent (Ondatra zibethicus).
- 1865, Henry David Thoreau, Cape Cod, Chapter IX. "The Sea and the Desert", page 187.
- He also said that minks, muskrats, foxes, coons, and wild mice were found there, but no squirrels.
- 1865, Henry David Thoreau, Cape Cod, Chapter IX. "The Sea and the Desert", page 187.
- Any of several species of shrews in the family Soricidae, especially the Asian house shrew (Suncus murinus).
Synonyms edit
- ondatra (dialectal), 'rat (chiefly informal), rat (chiefly informal)
- (Ondatra zibethicus): musquash
- (Suncus murinus): Asian house shrew, musk shrew
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
Ondatra zibethicus
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Suncus murinus
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
References edit
- muskrat on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- Asian house shrew on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- Ondatra zibethicus on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
- Suncus murinus on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
- Ondatra zibethicus on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons