muskrat
muskrat Lexical Profile
muskrat Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A large, semi-aquatic rodent (Ondatra zibethicus) native to North America and introduced to Eurasia, known for its dense, valuable brown fur, a long, laterally compressed tail, and a musky odor.
"While canoeing through the marsh at dusk, we watched a muskrat swimming toward its dome-shaped lodge of cattails."
The dense, water-repellent fur or pelt of a muskrat, traditionally used in making coats and hats.
"The vintage winter coat was lined with soft muskrat to provide extra insulation against the freezing wind."
Word Origin & Etymology
Early 17th century: likely an alteration of the Algonquian word 'musquash' by folk etymology, heavily influenced by the English words 'musk' (due to the animal's strong glandular odor) and 'rat' (due to its rodent appearance).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.