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.

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Norway rat British  

noun

1. another name for brown rat

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Etymology

Origin of Norway rat

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

Norway rats, a common household pest across the U.S., will often burrow beneath your home’s foundation and can consequently be found in basements, crawl spaces and other low-reaching areas of the house.

From Seattle Times

Brown rats, also known as Norway rats, have coexisted with humans for thousands of years and are prolific transmitters of human diseases.

From Los Angeles Times

There is the misnamed Norway rat — also called the brown, sewer or wharf rat — actually a native from northern China or Mongolia.

From Seattle Times

British naturalist John Berkenhout dubbed them Norway rats because of incorrect rumors that they had come over on lumber ships from Norway, Corrigan said.

From Washington Post

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

From Salon