muskrat

[ muhsk-rat ]

/ ˈmʌskˌræt /

a large, aquatic, North American rodent, Ondatra zibethica, having a musky odor.

its thick, light-brown fur, used for coats, for hats, as a trimming, etc.

Origin of muskrat

1680–90, Americanism; alteration, by folk etymology, of musquash

Even in one of the earliest books, the Muskrat philosopher ends up seeing the point of things.

Tove Jansson, Queen of the Moomins |John Garth |August 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The muskrat skin was also used as the unit in the later days of the trade.

The Character and Influence of the Indian Trade in Wisconsin |Frederick Jackson Turner
In the mud alongside of a pool of water, the tracks of that busy little animal the muskrat, can be seen.

Science of Trapping |Elmer Harry Kreps
The muskrat with a single missing tooth never enters the real race of life at all.

Winter |Dallas Lore Sharp

Now, Peter Mink learned that there was a muskrat who had built him a house in the bank of the duck pond.

The Tale of Peter Mink |Arthur Scott Bailey
The muskrat comes up through the passage, pushing a bunch of moss or sticks and does not notice passing the trapdoors.

The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 |Various

muskrat

/ (ˈmʌskˌræt) /

a North American beaver-like amphibious rodent, Ondatra zibethica, closely related to but larger than the voles: family Cricetidae

the brown fur of this animal

either of two closely related rodents, Ondatra obscurus or Neofiber alleni (round-tailed muskrat)

Often (informal) shortened to: musquash

C17: by folk etymology, from the same source as musquash