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

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

This species “should be a dreamy candidate for de-extinction,” McCauley says, given its close relationship with the Norway rat, a well-studied lab animal with a complete genome sequence that scientists already know how to modify.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 9, 2022

To catch another sizeable rodent, the Norway rat, however, a New Yorker can go to the hardware store around the corner and purchase a glue board.

From Salon • Jan. 12, 2022

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

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2017

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