musquash

English

Etymology

From Abenaki moskwas (or its Massachusett equivalent). Compare musquaw.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɒʃ

Noun

musquash (plural musquashes)

1. The muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus. [from 17th c.]

   Synonym: (obsolete, rare) squash

   • 1634, William Wood, “Beasts Living in the Water”, in New Englands Prospect. A True, Lively, and Experimentall Description of that Part of America, Commonly Called New England; […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, for Iohn Bellamie, […], →OCLC, 1st part, page 25:

     […] Muſquaſhes, vvhich be much like a Beaver for ſhape, but nothing neare ſo bigge; the male hath tvvo ſtones vvhich ſmell as ſvveete as Muske, […]

Derived terms

• Russia musquash

Alternative forms

• muscascus, mussascus (both obsolete)

Translations

Ondatra zibethicus — see muskrat