DCHP-1 Online

muktuk mak tak, muk duk [< Esk. maktak] Arctic

• n. the edible skin of narwhal and beluga, called muktuk by the Eskimos, eaten fresh and raw by them but usually cooked by whites.

  See also: blackskin  

  • 1836  [Skin of a whale Mak tuk.]
  • 1909  The wedding breakfast consisted of seal-meat, frozen rotten fish, and muktuk (whale-meat).
  • 1940  All were chewing muk tuk--the outer protective skin of the whale--with great enjoyment.
  • 1942  The protective "cork" or outer covering of the whale, whether it is bowhead, white whale or narwhal, is highly prized and regarded as a delicacy by the Eskimo. This muktuk is eaten raw or cooked and has the flavour characteristic of shell fish.
  • 1966  The Eskimos love muktuk and eat it raw. It's rather rubbery but doesn't taste bad at all--a bit like hazel nut.