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Definition rat
Etymology 1
From Middle English ratte, rat, rotte, from Old English ræt, as though from Proto-Germanic *rattaz, *ratt? (compare West Frisian rôt, Dutch rat), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *reh?d- (“to scrape, scratch, gnaw”); however, the rat was unknown in Northern Europe in antiquity, so if the Proto-Germanic word is real it must have referred to a different animal. Attestation of this family of words begins in the 12th century.
Some of the Germanic cognates show consonant variation, e.g. Middle Low German ratte, radde; Middle High German rate, ratte, ratze. The irregularity may be symptomatic of a late dispersal of the word, in which case it would not be old. Kroonen (2011) rather accounts for it with a Proto-Germanic stem *raþ? nom., *ruttaz gen., showing both ablaut and a Kluge's law alternation, with the variation arising from varying remodellings in the daughters. Kroonen's explanation requires a Proto-Indo-European etymon in final *t, and is hence incompatible with the usual derivation from Proto-Indo-European *reh?d- (“to scrape, scratch, gnaw”).
Noun
rat (plural rats)
- (zoology) A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.
- (informal) Any of the numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles and mice) having bodies longer than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.
- (informal) A person who is known for betrayal; a scoundrel; a quisling.
- (informal) An informant or snitch.
- (informal) A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.
- (slang) A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.
- A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.
- A roll of material used to puff out the hair, which is turned over it.
- (Britain, north-west London, slang, vulgar) Vagina.
Verb
rat (third-person singular simple present rats, present participle ratting, simple past and past participle ratted)
- (usually with “on” or “out”) To betray a person or party, especially by telling their secret to an authority or an enemy; to turn someone in.
- (informal, intransitive) To work as a scab, going against trade union policies.
- (of a dog, etc.) To kill rats.
Etymology 2
From Middle English ratten, further etymology unknown. Compare Middle High German ratzen (“to scratch; rasp; tear”). Could be related to write. See also rit.
Noun
rat (plural rats)
- (regional) A scratch or a score.
- (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)
Results 253 Words with the letters RAT
5 letter words with the letters RAT ↑
4 letter words with the letters RAT ↑
3 letter words with the letters RAT ↑
2 letter words with the letters RAT ↑
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