ratel
[ reyt-l, raht-l ]
/ ˈreɪt l, ˈrɑt l /
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noun
a badgerlike carnivore, Mellivora capensis, of Africa and India.
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Also called honey badger.
Origin of ratel
1770–80; <Afrikaans <Dutch dialect ratel, variant of raat honeycomb; perhaps originally a compound with this word, referring to the animal's fondness for honey
Words nearby ratel
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for ratel
ratel
/ (ˈreɪtəl) /
noun
Also called: honey badger a musteline mammal, Mellivora capensis, inhabiting wooded regions of Africa and S Asia. It has a massive body, strong claws, and a thick coat that is paler on the back and it feeds on honey and small animals
Southern African a six-wheeled armoured vehicle
Word Origin for ratel
C18: from Afrikaans
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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