Illustration of muskrat
muskrat
noun
musk·rat ˈməsk-ˌrat 
plural muskrat or muskrats
: an aquatic rodent (Ondatra zibethica) of the U.S. and Canada with a long scaly laterally compressed tail, webbed hind feet, and dark glossy brown fur
also : its fur or pelt
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web This is most likely a rush to judgement, as the muskrat’s diet is 95 percent vegetation. 
al, 31 Aug. 2022 Occasionally, a beady-eyed muskrat surfaces on the lake, or a snapping turtle lazily sinks deeper. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 It’s used for farming, timbering, harvesting muskrat. Liza Weisstuch, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2022 Anchor expected to find traces of raccoons and beavers, an occasional muskrat, and even a native mink. Paul Eisenberg, chicagotribune.com, 20 Feb. 2022 The muskrat was freed and relocated to a nearby park. Star Tribune, 17 Apr. 2021 Thom as was named for the muskrat, wazhashk, the lowly, hardworking, water-loving rodent. New York Times, 3 Mar. 2020 In death, mussels still play a role in the ecosystem, feeding muskrats, raccoons, and other riverside vertebrates. Marion Renault, Wired, 18 Apr. 2020 In the ’50s, nutria surpassed muskrat both in number of animals trapped and pelt value. Gerry Bethge, Outdoor Life, 21 Apr. 2020 See More
al, 31 Aug. 2022 Occasionally, a beady-eyed muskrat surfaces on the lake, or a snapping turtle lazily sinks deeper. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 It’s used for farming, timbering, harvesting muskrat. Liza Weisstuch, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2022 Anchor expected to find traces of raccoons and beavers, an occasional muskrat, and even a native mink. Paul Eisenberg, chicagotribune.com, 20 Feb. 2022 The muskrat was freed and relocated to a nearby park. Star Tribune, 17 Apr. 2021 Thom as was named for the muskrat, wazhashk, the lowly, hardworking, water-loving rodent. New York Times, 3 Mar. 2020 In death, mussels still play a role in the ecosystem, feeding muskrats, raccoons, and other riverside vertebrates. Marion Renault, Wired, 18 Apr. 2020 In the ’50s, nutria surpassed muskrat both in number of animals trapped and pelt value. Gerry Bethge, Outdoor Life, 21 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
probably by folk etymology from a word of Algonquian origin; akin to Massachusett musquash muskrat
First Known Use
1607, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
muskrat
noun
musk·rat ˈməsk-ˌrat
plural muskrat or muskrats
: a North American animal that is a rodent living in or near water and having webbed hind feet, a long scaly tail, and glossy usually dark brown fur
muskrat
noun
as in beaver
Synonyms & Similar Words
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- beaver
- raccoon
- mink
- rabbit
- otter
- badger
- fisher
- marten
- racoon
- chinchilla
- fox
- sable
- ermine
- seal
- pelt
- chamois
- sheep
- fur
- leather
- karakul
- deerskin
- sharkskin
- skin
- alligator
- kolinsky
- crocodile
- sealskin
- Persian lamb
- snakeskin
- rawhide
- coonskin
- goatskin
- pigskin
- sheepskin
- mouton
- horsehide
- lambskin
- hide
- calfskin
- bearskin
- doeskin
- fleece
- buckskin
- kidskin
- cowhide
- patent leather
- suede
- morocco
- cordovan
- blondining
- blondish
- blondisher
- blondishest
- blondism
- blondness
- blondnesses
- blonds
- blood
- blood albumin
- blood alley
- blood and iron
- blood and thunder
- blood bank
- blood bay
- blood blister
- blood bond
- blood brother
- blood brotherhood
- blood brothers
- blood cancer
- blood cell
- blood clam
- blood clot
- blood corpuscle