desman
/ˈdɛz.mən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.04 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Either of two species, Desmana moschata or Galemys pyrenaicus, of aquatic or semiaquatic insectivore of the mole family, Talpidae, found in Europe.
Example Sentences
- "Unlike the Russian desman, the Pyrenean species lives along fast-flowing mountain streams."
- "Restricted to the Old World, desmans have a diet consisting of aquatic invertebrates and fish."
- "With the aid of its Eimer's organs, the desman was able to detect engraved lines only one-fifteenth of a millimeter (0.067 mm, or 0.002 inches) in depth and width. There are two extant species of desmans: the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), weighing about 65 g (2.3 oz) (fig 2.10), and the larger Russian desman (Desmana moschata), weighing 500 g (17.6 oz)."
Etymology
From French desman, German Desman, from Swedish desmanråtta (“muskrat”), from desman (“musk”, older also desma, desme), from Middle Low German dēsem, from Old Saxon desamo, alteration of *besamo (cf. Old High German bisamo), from Late Latin bisamum (“musk”), from Hebrew בושם (bāśām, bōśem). Doublet of balm and balsam.
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: desman, desmanråtta, dēsem, desamo, bisamum, בושם
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈdɛz.mən/
- British English: /ˈdɛsmən/