water ratn.
/ˈwɔːtə rat/, U.S. /ˈwɔdər ˌræt/, /ˈwɑdər ˌræt/ 1. Any of various semiaquatic rodents, esp. of the family Cricetidae.
a. The European water vole, Arvicola amphibius.The name water rat was formerly universal in Britain but is now uncommon.
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the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Myomorpha (mouse, rat, vole, or hamster) > [noun] > family Microtidae > genus Ondatra (musk-rat)
water rat1481
rat1584
mussascus1612
muskrat1615
musquash1616
squash1678
Muscovy rat1693
musk beaver1771
Ondatra1774
rat-tailed shrew1827
mushrat1842
beaver-rat1884
musky1884
the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Myomorpha (mouse, rat, vole, or hamster) > [noun] > family Microtidae > genus Arvicola > arvicola amphibius (water-vole)
water mousea1398
water rat1481
craber1655
water dog1765
water mole1770
vole1805
water vole1828
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 75 The watreratte [Du. waterrotte] and many moo.
?1527 L. Andrewe tr. Noble Lyfe Bestes cxxiiij. sig. hiiii/2 There be ij. maner of ratis, a house or londe ratte or a water ratte & some say their tailes be poison.
1590 L. Mascall Bk. Fishing 30 The Water-rat is a hurtfull vermin to kill fish.
a1627 T. Middleton Witch (1945) i. i. 53 He..sticks to small drinck like a Water-Rat.
1629 H. C. Disc. Drayning Fennes sig. C 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.].
a1706 J. Evelyn Direct. for Gardiner (1932) 82 Molles should be kill'd & Water Ratts, in March, when they breede.
1766 T. Pennant Brit. Zool. i. 47 This species [sc. the Norway rat] burroughs, like the water rat, in the banks of rivers.
1837 T. Bell Hist. Brit. Quadrupeds 322 The Water Vole, or, as it is more frequently called, the Water Rat, is found in most parts of Europe.
1890 D. Davidson Mem. Long Life iv. 95 Herds of cattle swim these flooded rivers like water-rats.
1908 K. Grahame Wind in Willows i. 5 A brown little face, with whiskers... Small neat ears and thick silky hair. It was the Water Rat!
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 1377 There should be no possibility of mixing up either of the rats with the water-vole (Arvicola amphibius)—badly called the ‘water-rat’.
1965 P. Wayre Wind in Reeds ix. 112 Ever since the time of Kenneth Grahame—and before for all I know—these unfortunate creatures have been misnamed water-rats.
2006 Peak District Life Spring 70/1 The water vole, or water rat, as it is sometimes called, first achieved fame thanks to the character of Ratty.
b. North American. The muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus, of western North America, and the round-tailed muskrat, Neofiber alleni, of the south-eastern United States.
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the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Myomorpha (mouse, rat, vole, or hamster) > [noun] > family Cricetidae
hog mouse1743
water rat1785
Norway lemming1829
Aspalax1860
1694 J. Clayton in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 18 123 Musk-Rats, in all things shaped like our Water-Rats, only something larger, and is an absolute Species of Water-Rats, only having a curious Musky scent.]
1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia 55 There remains then the buffalo, red deer, fallow deer, wolf, roe, glutton,..and water rat.
1870 D. Cameron tr. A. Taché Sketch North-west of Amer. vii. 162 Our water-rats require water, and when they have none,..they die.
1920 Jrnl. Mammalogy 1 65 (title) The Florida Water-Rat (Neofiber Alleni) in Okofinokee Swamp, Georgia.
2011 J. P. Rafferty Rats, Bats, & Xenarthrans iv. 96 The Florida water rat (Neofiber alleni) is sometimes called the round-tailed muskrat.
c. Chiefly Australian. Any of several large aquatic Australasian rodents of the genus Hydromys (family Muridae); esp. H. chrysogaster of Australia (also called rakali).
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the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > order Rodentia or rodent > superfamily Myomorpha (mouse, rat, vole, or hamster) > [noun] > family Muridae > genus Hydromys (Australian water-rat)
water mouse1831
water rat1837
1837 R. Owen in Hunter's Observ. Animal Œcon. (new ed.) 483 (note) The Ornithorhynchus and the Hydromys, or water-rat of the colonists, habitually inhabit the freshwater ponds.
1876 F. G. Waterhouse in W. Harcus S. Austral. 282 The curious water-rats or beaver-rats must be mentioned as being purely Australian.
1941 E. Troughton Furred Animals Austral. 264 Australian dealers were turning to the native water-rat owing to a shortage of muskrat furs.
1992 M. Schaffer-Fehre tr. S. Schaal & W. Ziegler Messel xviii. 222 The Australian-New Guinea water rat (Hydromys chrysogaster ) is specialized for a life in water.
2. figurative.† a. A drunkard. Obsolete. rare.
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the world > food and drink > drink > thirst > excess in drinking > [noun] > one who drinks to excess > alcoholic or habitual drinker
supper?1529
blow-bowl1530
drunkard1530
drunkera1538
blow-bottle1580
tippler1580
potman1589
red nose1591
sot1592
water rat1593
ply-pot1611
potter1632
pothead1639
pisspot1655
pitcher-man1665
whetter1709
inebriate1794
rummy1843
alcoholic1852
oenomaniac1857
dipsomaniac1858
alcoholizer1880
alcoholist1888
potationist1888
lush1890
rumdum1891
rumhound1895
blacklister1904
dipso1923
rumpot1929
alky1944
juice-head1955
alcohol abuser1965
juicer1967
substance abuser1967
jakey1988
1593 R. Harvey Philadelphus 52 Cheryn was a drunkard, a cupleache, a bellygod, a water rat, he had been well vsed if hee had been punished with abasement, and turned out of his throne into a wineseller, and of a winebibber, made a winedrawer.
b. A waterborne thief, a pirate. Also (frequently derogatory): a sailor, a boatman.
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the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > piracy > [noun] > pirate
sea-thiefc1050
skimmera1387
scummera1398
galliotc1425
reaver1434
piratea1475
freebooter1570
sea-rover1579
filibuster1591
water rat1600
water thief1600
picaroon1624
sea-rata1640
Algerine1657
marooner1661
rat1675
Likedeelers1764
Viking1807
sea-wolf1837
piratess1862
society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > types of sailor > [noun] > boatman or waterman
boatman1274
waterman1439
boatsman1512
water rat1600
water snake1609
battoe man1756
boathand1821
boatie1826
water-jack1828
floatman1882
river rat1884
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. iii. 22 There be land rats, and water rats, water theeues, and land theeues. View more context for this quotation
a1655 R. Cox Actæon & Diana (1656) 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.
1705 D—— Deputies 7 Yet still these Water-Rats, Amphibious Brood, Prone to all Arts, to e'ery thing but Good.
1836 D. Crockett Exploits & Adventures in Texas x. 141 This was the first time that I was ever in company with a water rat to my knowledge; however..he was a well behaved and inoffensive man.
1864 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend (1865) I. i. xiv. 129 ‘A man may speak.’ ‘And vermin may be silent,’ said Eugene. ‘Hold your tongue, you water-rat!’
1903 T. Hardy Dynasts i. vi. i These water-rats [sc. the English] may paddle in their salt slush.
1939 Boys' Life Sept. 33/2 D'you see what we do ter water rats what ain't l'arned their lesson?
1970 Boating Jan. 80/2 Boat looters, water rats, dirty crooks, or whatever term you wish to bestow upon them are not new in the history of boating.
2005 Hobart Mercury (Nexis) 24 Oct. 20 Water rats and landlubbers alike set sail for the fifth annual Clarence Seafarers Festival.
3. In plural. With capital initials. More fully Grand Order of Water Rats. With the. A philanthropic show-business society, based in London. Also in singular: a member of this society.The Grand Order of Water Rats was founded in 1889, and took its name from the nickname given to a racing pony owned by a number of the founder members. The head of the charity, the King Rat, is elected annually.
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society > society and the community > social attitudes > philanthropy > [noun] > philanthropic society > specific
Grand Order of Water Rats1894
1894 Era 27 Oct. 17/3 We, the undersigned members of the Grand Order of Water Rats, comprised of members of the music hall profession, view with apprehension and alarm the unjust action of the Licensing Committee in regard to the Empire Theatre of Varieties.
1935 A. 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.
1956 Golden Jubilee Bk. Show Business (Variety Artistes Fed.) 17/3 There is..also the ‘sister’ section of the Water Rats—the Lady Ratlings.
1997 R. Hudd & P. Hindin Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts 74/1 To be made a Water Rat is the ambition of every true pro.
2014 Stourbridge News (Nexis) 5 Mar. The Water Rats' private museum..contains treasures including Charlie Chaplin's cane.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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