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

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 • Jan. 13, 2023

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

There are two kinds of rats known in this country, the black, which was formerly very common, but is now rarely seen, being superseded by the large brown kind, commonly called the Norway rat.

From The Cries of London Exhibiting Several of the Itinerant Traders of Antient and Modern Times by Smith, John Thomas