rat

Noun

rat (plural rats)

2. (zoology) A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.
   • 2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200:

     Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.

3. (informal) Any of the numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles and mice) that resemble true rats in appearance, usually having a pointy snout, a long, bare tail, and body length greater than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.
4. (informal) A person who is known for betrayal; a scoundrel; a quisling.

   rat bastard

   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

     He’s more a man than any pair of rats of you in this here house.

   What a rat, leaving us stranded here!

   • 1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XVIII, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 185:

     "Ah, so you damn rat, this is a put-up job eh?"

5. (informal) An informant or snitch.
6. (informal) A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.
7. (slang) A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.

   Our teenager has become a mall rat.

   He loved hockey and was a devoted rink rat.

8. A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.
9. A roll of material used to puff out the hair, which is turned over it.
10. (UK, north-west London, slang, vulgar) Vagina, vulva.
    • 2022, Chambers Hester Louise, Champion Michael James, Teasdale Rhian Louise (lyrics and music), “Too Late Now”, in Wet Leg, performed by Wet Leg, Domino, →OCLC:

      I don't need no dating app to tell me if I look like crap / To tell me if I'm thin or fat, to tell me should I shave my rat / I don't need no radio, no MTV, no BBC / I just need a bubble bath to set me on a higher path

    Get your rat out.

11. (chiefly informal) Short for muskrat.
    • 1910, L. W. Pierce, “Muskrats are fast disappearing”, in Hunter-trader-trapper, page 70:

      The price of rats began to rise and soon after the marsh froze over, spearing rats began, which was done with a one tine three-eighths inch steel rod, with a wooden handle […]

    • 1929, E. J. Dailey, in Hardings Magazine's Question Box, printed in Fur Fish Game, page 73:

      Where natural marshes, or natural foods are found, are best places for raising muskrats. Louisiana and other southern states raise millions of rats, but they do not bring as good prices as northern raised ones. Delaware and Maryland have famed marshes. Other states are becoming noted for muskrat raising, also.

Verb

rat (third-person singular simple present rats, present participle ratting, simple past and past participle ratted)

1. (of a dog, etc.) To hunt or kill rats. [from 19th c.]
2. (intransitive) To betray a political party, cause or principle; to betray someone, to desert a person or thing. [from 19th c.]
3. (informal, intransitive) To work as a scab, going against trade union policies. [from 19th c.]
4. (chiefly US) To backcomb (hair). [from 20th c.]
   • 2021, Rickie Lee Jones, Last Chance Texaco, Grove Press, published 2022, page 31:

     In 1962, the higher a girl's hair was ratted the more available she was, it was simply understood.

5. (intransitive, with on or out) To inform on someone; to betray someone to the police or authorities. [from 20th c.]

   He ratted on his coworker.

   He is going to rat us out!

References

Noun

rat (plural rats)

1. (regional) A scratch or a score.
2. (nautical, regional) A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.

Verb

rat (third-person singular simple present rats, present participle ratting, simple past and past participle ratted)

1. (regional) To scratch or score.

   He ratted a vertical line on his face with a pocket knife.

2. (regional, rare, obsolete) To tear, rip, rend.

   Ratted to shreds.

3. Damn, drat, blast; used in oaths.
   • 1904, Rafael Sabatini, chapter XXVI, in The Tavern Knight:

     “But, rat me, sir,” cried Foster in bewilderment, “tis too generous—'pon honour it is. I can't consent to it. No, rat me, I can't.”

References

• The Middle English Dictionary
• The English dialect dictionary

Noun

rat (plural rats)

1. (military, slang) A ration.
   • 2014, John, Buffoon, page 243:

     With regards to the testing of his product, the initial blood analysis had come back confirming huge, distinctive nutritional superiority for Stewart's military ration pack. Given that the policy of the British Army is to be fully ready for war at the drop of a hat, he was sitting on the potential of supplying new rats for the entire army […]

Inflection

Derived terms

Descendants

• Afrikaans: rot
• Jersey Dutch: rot
• Negerhollands: rotto, roto
  • → Virgin Islands Creole: roto (dated)
• →? Kari'na: alata (via Sranantongo, possibly from Spanish)
• →? Saramaccan: alátu (possibly from Spanish)

Derived terms

Related terms

• raton
• rate
• rat d’hôtel
• rater

Noun

rat n

1. wheel

   Synonym: wiel

Adjective

rat

1. fast, quick

Derived terms

Synonyms

• garri

Derived terms

Related terms

• rata

Descendants

• Middle French: rat
  • French: rat
  • Norman: rat

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɾat/

Noun

rat m (nominative plural rata)

1. blood^[1][2][3][4]

Alternative forms

• ratyi (Anglicized)
• rǎt, rǎtǐ (International Standard)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɾat/, /ɾʲat/

Noun

rat f (nominative plural ratǎ)

1. night^[6][7]

Synonyms

• ratung

Declension

Synonyms

• mukeis (eastern dialect)

Declension

Hypernyms

• nim
• sügaf
• süganim
• tuetaf
• tuetanim

Hyponyms

• ratil
• ratül

Derived terms

See also

• mug
• yat