DCHP-1 Online

muskrat † [ult. < Algonk. by folk etymology; cf. musquash]

• 1 n. an aquatic rodent, Ondatra zibethica, common to many parts of North America and widely trapped for its valuable fur.

  See also: marsh rat  mushrat (def. 1)  musk beaver  musquash (def. 1)  rat ((n.)) (def. 1)  water-rat  

  • 1703  (1905)  In this place we kill'd some Musk-Rats. . . .
  • 1883  On one occasion I saw one attack a horse, while the settlers assured me that in some places the muskrats climb trees and hang from the branches, lying-in-wait for the passer by, whom they attack and sometimes destroy leaving nothing but the boot nails.
  • 1966  They used to get together to chew over pemmican and offer up incantations to the great god Scouse for the preservation of the fertility of the muskrat and things like that.

• 2 n. the valuable fur of the muskrat.

  See also: musquash (def. 2)  rat ((n.)) (def. 2)  rat skin  

  • c1902  Next to musk-rat the most plentiful fur taken by the Indian, though not highly esteemed by the trader, will be that of the rabbit or varying hare.
  • 1796  (1911)  [We . . . slept well without mosquitoes, but the smell of muskrat skins, which had been drying in the house, was disagreeable.]
  • 1805  Also received this day by the Schooner Corlotte from Restigouche . . . 845 Prime Martin Skins, A few Beaver and Otter do. 182 Muskrat do.
  • 1963  Coming home from the trapline, the toboggan will hold . . . furs, which include lynx, marten, mink, beaver, muskrat, fox, weasel and squirrel.

• 3 n. the flesh of the muskrat used as food.

  See also: musquash (def. 3)  rat ((n.)) (def. 3)  

  • 1760  [Their porcupines, otters . . . and musk-rats, are . . . very good eating. . . .]
  • 1852  (1923)  They very hospitably offered me a dishful of this odious mixture, which the odour of the muskrat rendered everything but savoury; but I declined, simply stating that I was not hungry.
  • 1911  (1914)  On this occasion he was out, but two saucepans were steaming on the stove, one labelled "beef," the other "musk-rat à la mode."
  • 1966  Lumberjacks ate everything from muskrat to pork upine [sic].

• 4 n. North, slang discuss the fur trade.

  See also: talk muskrat