des·man (d s m n)n. 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. [Short for Swedish desmanråtta, muskrat : desman, musk (from Middle Low German desem, from Medieval Latin bisamum, of Semitic origin; see b  m in Semitic roots) + råtta, rat (akin to Old English ræt).] |
desman [ˈdɛsmən]
n pl -mans
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) either of two molelike amphibious mammals Desmana moschata (Russian desman) or Galemys pyrenaicus (Pyrenean desman), having dense fur and webbed feet: family Talpidae, order Insectivora (insectivores)
[from Swedish desmansråtta, from desman musk (of Germanic origin) + råtta rat]
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