black rat

noun

1. an Old World rat, Rattus rattus, now common in the southern U.S., having a black or brown body with grayish or white underparts.

black rat

noun

1. a common rat, Rattus rattus : a household pest that has spread from its native Asia to all countries

Word History and Origins

Origin of black rat¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

The small black rat previously seen was here too, and an unseen mouse entered our tents and ate our food at 20,000 feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Harvest mice and dormice, although widely distributed, are not numerous, and the original English black rat is now rare.

From Project Gutenberg

Not so, however, with the black-rat blister-beetle, which is on hand ready for business early in the season.

From Project Gutenberg

It seems to have driven out the black rat before it wherever it made its appearance.

From Project Gutenberg

She stared at me out of a pair of small black rat eyes, then, setting down her bundle, asked me what I wanted.

From Project Gutenberg