different between woodchuck vs muskrat

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Cree ocêk, otchek (“fisher”), borrowed from Ojibwe ojiig (“fisher, marten”), or a similar term in a related Algonquian language, subsequently reapplied to the groundhog.

An earlier form of this word, woodshock, still sometimes designated the marten.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?w?d.t??k/

Noun

woodchuck (plural woodchucks)

1. A rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots, Marmota monax.

   Synonyms: groundhog, whistle pig, land-beaver, moonack

Translations

Further reading

• woodchuck on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

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