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desman

(des′mən)

noun

a molelike, aquatic insectivore mammal (family Talpidae) with webbed feet and a long, flexible snout: one species (Desmana moschata), trapped for its fur, is found in Russia and the other (Galemys pyrenaicus) in the Pyrenees

Origin: < Swed desman-råtta < desman, musk + råtta, rat

See desman in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. des·mans

Either of two aquatic, insectivorous, molelike mammals, Desmana moschata of eastern Europe and western Asia or Galemys pyrenaicus of southwest Europe, having dense brownish fur, a long snout, and a flattened scaly tail.

Origin:

Origin: Short for Swedish desmanråtta, muskrat

Origin: : desman, musk (from Middle Low German desem, from Medieval Latin bisamum, of Semitic origin; see bśm in Semitic roots)

Origin: + råtta, rat (akin to Old English rǽt)

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