| 释义 |
ˈwater-rat
[Cf. G. wasserratte, -ratz(e, MDu. waterrot (mod.Du. -rat), LG. waterrötte.]
1. An aquatic rodent of the family Muridæ; in British use, the water-vole, Arvicola amphibius, inhabiting the banks of rivers. In the U.S. applied to the musk-rat, and in Australia to the genus Hydromys.
1552Huloet, Water rat, sorex. a1627Middleton Witch i. i. 45 He..sticks to small drink like a water-rat. 1629Drayner Confirmed (1647) C 1, There is also an other danger in Banking, procured by a small contemptible Vermine, they be Water-rats, which make their holes in the bank close to the water, [etc.]. 1633Ford Broken H. ii. i, Island? prison:..whom shall we see there? Sea-guls, and Porpiseis, and water-rats? 1752J. Hill Hist. Anim. 518 The water Rat... This is considerably larger than the common rat, and of a different colour; the head is large, and sharp at the extremity. 1768Pennant Brit. Zool. I. 101 The water-rat never frequents houses. a1860Wynter Curios. Civiliz. 133 The water-rat is a rare animal compared with..the common brown or Norway rat. 1876F. G. Waterhouse in Harcus S. Austral. 282 The curious water-rats or beaver-rats must be mentioned as being purely Australian. 1890D. Davidson Mem. Long Life iv. 95 Herds of cattle swim these flooded rivers like water-rats.
2. fig. A water-thief, pirate. Also applied contemptuously to a sailor, boatman, or the like.
1596Shakes. Merch. V. i. iii. 23 There be land rats, and water rats, water theeues, and land theeues. 1602Rowlands Greenes Ghost (1872) 38 To this societie maie be coupled also another fraternity, viz. Water-rats, Watermen I meane, that will be readie and very diligent for anie man, vntil they can get them to their boates, but when [etc.]. 1608J. Day Law Trickes v. I 2 b, Lur. No more a that, neece; y'are a wag. Em. Well said, old Water Ratt. a1656R. Cox Actæon & Diana 36 Cut. Where is he, Parnell? Parn. Why gone abroad..to fetch a gang of Saylors, who he vows shal hang thee up at the main Yard... Cut. And those same water-rats are Divellish things. 1865Dickens Mut. Fr. i. xiv, ‘A man may speak.’ ‘And vermin may be silent,’ said Eugene. ‘Hold your tongue, you water-rat!’ 1903Hardy Dynasts i. vi. i, These water-rats [the English] may paddle in their salt slush.
3. Grand Order of Water Rats, a philanthropic show-business society (see quot. 1951). Also ellipt., as Water Rats.
1910Era Annual 47 July..Memorabilia of Theatrical Events... Water Rats Motor Run to Brighton, 1909. 1935A. Haddon Story of Music Hall xix. 90 Elvin..founded the Grand Order of Water Rats, which led to the institution of nearly every existing artistes' organisation. 1951Oxf. Compan. Theatre 835/1 Water Rats, the Grand Order of, a British association of members of the music-hall profession which originated in 1889 from an up-river (Thames) party to celebrate the successes of the Water Rat, a racing pony. 1956Golden Jubilee Bk. Show Business (Variety Artistes Fed.) 17/3 There is the Grand Order of Water Rats..also the ‘sister’ section of the Water Rats—the Lady Ratlings. 1977T. Heald Just Desserts iii. 56 He..found a large lavatory decked out in Victorian tiles, original newspaper cartoons..and a document certifying that Escoffier Savarin Smith was a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats. |