Norway rat

American  

noun

1. an Old World rat, Rattus norvegicus, having a grayish-brown body with whitish underparts and a long, scaly tail, now common in the U.S. in or near homes, barns, wharves, etc.

---

Norway rat British  

noun

1. another name for brown rat

---

Etymology

Origin of Norway rat

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

The average Norway rat can potentially jump vertically 3 feet, and horizontally 4 feet.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2022

Old DNA only survives in small fragments, so the team used the genome of the Norway rat as a reference to piece together as much as possible of the vanished rat’s genome.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 9, 2022

The Norway rat is an animal full of contradictions, starting with its common name.

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2017

The culprit — known as the Norway rat or brown rat — can grow to 15 inches long, not including tail, and weigh over a pound.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 23, 2016

The black rat is that which first inhabited this island; but it has been nearly driven out by the brown, which is, without any foundation, termed the Norway rat.

From Anecdotes of the Habits and Instinct of Animals by Weir, Harrison