water rat en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
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.
Meanings
-
(US) Any of various aquatic or semi-aquatic rodents from Florida and southern Georgia, especially Neofiber alleni; the muskrat.
Otters are even harder to spot; the coypu, a North American water rat, is more commonly seen.
2004, James McConnachie, Rough Guide to the Loire, page 43:
-
(Australia) A water mouse, especially, the rakali, Hydromys chrysogaster.
"There [...] you will find the water-hole that is sacred to Biggoon, the giant water rat."
1943, H. Lorna Bingham, The Lost Tribe, Sydney: Winn and Co., page 11, column 1:
- (informal) A European water vole (Arvicola amphibius, formerly Arvicola terrestris).
- (US, slang) A petty thief or waterfront ruffian.
- (slang) A person fond of water sports.
- (Australia, slang) A member of the water police.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| waterrat | alternative | lexicographic | |
| water rats | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| water-rat | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Relateds
Translations (10)
wyi boggon (Hydromys chrysogaster — see also rakali) · nl zwemrat (person fond of water sports) · fi floridanvesimyyrä (Neofiber alleni) · el νεροαρουραίος (Arvicola amphibius) · fi vesipeto (person fond of water sports) · nl waterrat (person fond of water sports) · fi rantarosvo (waterfront ruffian) · fi australianvesirotta (Hydromys chrysogaster — see also rakali) · fi vesimyyrä (Arvicola amphibius) · es rata acuática (Arvicola amphibius)