water rat
Any of various aquatic or semi-aquatic rodents from Florida and southern Georgia,…Any of various aquatic or semi-aquatic rodents from Florida and southern Georgia, especially Neofiber alleni; the muskrat.
Meaning
6 senses(US)Any of various aquatic or semi-aquatic rodents from Florida and southern Georgia, especially Neofiber alleni; the muskrat.
(Australia)A water mouse, especially, the rakali, Hydromys chrysogaster.
(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.
a person who enjoys being in or on the water
(Australia, slang)A member of the water police.
Translations
1 languagesOrigin
From water + rat. Compare Saterland Frisian Woaterrotte, West Frisian wetterrôt, Dutch watFrom water + rat. Compare Saterland Frisian Woaterrotte, West Frisian wetterrôt, Dutch waterrat, German Low German Waterrötte, Waterrött, German Wasserratte, Danish vandrotte, Swedish vattenråtta, Icelandic vatnsrotta.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: water ratsSynonyms
3 synonyms- common large Eurasian vole:water voleArvicola amphibius
- a person who enjoys being in or on the water:water dog
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.