muskrat Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the brown fur of a muskrat
    muskrat fur.
  2. noun beaver-like aquatic rodent of North America with dark glossy brown fur
    Ondatra zibethica; musquash.

WordNet

Musk"rat` noun
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) A North American aquatic fur-bearing rodent (Fiber zibethicus). It resembles a rat in color and having a long scaly tail, but the tail is compressed, the bind 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 also musquash, musk beaver, and ondatra. and sometimes water rat
  2. (Zoöl.) The musk shrew.
  3. (Zoöl.) The desman.

Webster 1913