Dictionary

raticide en · NOUN

Etymology

From rat + -cide.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) rat poison.
   • Red squill is the principal raticide. 2010, Anil Kumar, Medicinal Plants, page 23:
   • Raticides are covered by the provisions of the Law on pesticides of 1961 (item (d) of Section 1). 1970, World Health Organization, Control of Pesticides: A Survey of Existing Legislation, page 40:
   • "Why don't you use a raticide?" his friend suggested. "But, what is a raticide?" asked Kartar innocently. "It is a material which helps the rat to commit suicide," his friend told him, his eyes showing humour for a minute. 1964, V. Balu, Day Dreams, page 93:
   • For the second time that morning, Philippe led the way through the house to the cellar, a large canister of raticide under one arm, a stack of cartons, folded flat, under the other. 2009, Peter Mayle, The Vintage Caper, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 214:

Forms