roof rat


noun
  1. a black rat, Rattus rattus alexandrinus, often found on the upper floors of buildings in warm areas.

Origin of roof rat

1
First recorded in 1810–20
  • Sometimes Alexandrine rat .

Words Nearby roof rat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use roof rat in a sentence

  • He also states that the black rat and the roof rat (Alexandrinus), both varieties of M. rattus, differ chiefly in color.

    Plague | Thomas Wright Jackson
  • The roof rat is common in many parts of the South, where it is a persistent pest in cane and rice fields.

    House Rats and Mice | David E. Lantz