Musk·rat n.
1. Zool. A North American aquatic fur-bearing rodent (Ondatra zibethica formerly Fiber zibethicus). It resembles a rat in color and having a long scaly tail, but the tail is compressed, the hind 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, ondatra, and sometimes water rat.
2. Zool. The musk shrew.
3. Zool. The desman.
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Wa·ter rat
1. Zool. (a) The water vole. See under Vole. (b) The muskrat. (c) The beaver rat. See under Beaver.
2. A thief on the water; a pirate.
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water rat
n 1: a person who enjoys being in or on the water [syn: water
dog]
2: common large Eurasian vole [syn: water vole, Arvicola
amphibius]
3: any of various amphibious rats