Hanoverian rat en · NOUN
Etymology
The name was introduced by English naturalist Charles Waterton, a devout Catholic, as a slur on Protestant Hanoverians whose British rule began in 1714, shortly before the species first appeared in Britain.
Meanings
- The brown rat, Rattus norvegicus.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanoverian rats | Number=Plur | lexicographic |