Quick links
muktuk
[< Esk. maktak]
Arctic
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Spelling variants:mak tak, muk duk
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
n.
the edible skin of narwhal and beluga, called muktuk by the Eskimos, eaten fresh and raw by them but usually cooked by whites.
See: blackskin
Quotations
1836
[Skin of a whale Mak tuk.]
1909
The wedding breakfast consisted of seal-meat, frozen rotten fish, and muktuk (whale-meat).
1940
All were chewing muk tuk--the outer protective skin of the whale--with great enjoyment.
1942
The protective "cork" or outer covering of the whale, whether it is bowhead, white whale or narwhal, is highly prized and regarded as a delicacy by the Eskimo. This muktuk is eaten raw or cooked and has the flavour characteristic of shell fish.
1966
The Eskimos love muktuk and eat it raw. It's rather rubbery but doesn't taste bad at all--a bit like hazel nut.