water rat

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From water +‎ rat. Compare Saterland Frisian Woaterrotte, West Frisian wetterrôt, Dutch waterrat, German Low German Waterrötte, Waterrött, German Wasserratte, Danish vandrotte, Swedish vattenråtta, Icelandic vatnsrotta.

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

water rat (plural water rats)

  1. (US) Any of various aquatic or semi-aquatic rodents from Florida and southern Georgia, especially Neofiber alleni; the muskrat.
    • 2004, James McConnachie, Rough Guide to the Loire, page 43:
      Otters are even harder to spot; the coypu, a North American water rat, is more commonly seen.
  2. (Australia) A water mouse, especially, the rakali, Hydromys chrysogaster.
    • 1943, H. Lorna Bingham, The Lost Tribe, Sydney: Winn and Co., page 11, column 1:
      "There [...] you will find the water-hole that is sacred to Biggoon, the giant water rat."
  3. (informal) A European water vole (Arvicola amphibius, formerly Arvicola terrestris).
  4. (US, slang) A petty thief or waterfront ruffian.
  5. (slang) A person fond of water sports.
  6. (slang, Australia) A member of the water police.

Derived terms

Translations

See also
  • beaver-rat

Anagrams
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