different between gopher vs muskrat

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????f?/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??o?f?/
• Rhymes: -??f?(?)

Etymology 1

Perhaps from French gaufre, based on the analogy of holes in the ground to the indentations in a waffle. Doublet of waffle

Noun

gopher (plural gophers)

1. A small burrowing rodent, especially in the family Geomyidae.
2. The gopher tortoise.
3. The gopher rockfish.

Translations

Etymology 2

Noun

gopher (plural gophers)

1. Alternative spelling of gofer

See also

• gopher wood
• gauffre

English

Alternative forms

• musk-rat

Etymology

Perhaps so called for its musky odour and because it resembles a rat, or perhaps called by an Algonquian name like the Abenaki moskwas, with the spelling altered under the influence of the English words musk and rat.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?sk?æt/

Noun

muskrat (plural muskrats)

1. A large aquatic rodent (Ondatra zibethicus).
   • 1865, Henry David Thoreau, Cape Cod, Chapter IX. "The Sea and the Desert", page 187.

     He also said that minks, muskrats, foxes, coons, and wild mice were found there, but no squirrels.

2. Any of several species of shrews in the family Soricidae, especially the Asian house shrew, Suncus murinus

Synonyms

• 'rat (chiefly informal), rat (chiefly informal)
• (Ondatra zibethicus): musquash
• (shrew): musk shrew

Derived terms

• muskrat weed
• muskrat root

Translations

References

• muskrat on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Asian house shrew on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Ondatra zibethicus on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Suncus murinus on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Ondatra zibethicus on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons

Anagrams

• Muktsar, muktars