roof rat
noun
a black rat, Rattus rattus alexandrinus, often found on the upper floors of buildings in warm areas.
Origin of roof rat
1First recorded in 1810–20
- Sometimes Alexandrine rat .
Words Nearby roof rat
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use roof rat in a sentence
He also states that the black rat and the roof rat (Alexandrinus), both varieties of M. rattus, differ chiefly in color.
Plague | Thomas Wright JacksonThe roof rat is common in many parts of the South, where it is a persistent pest in cane and rice fields.
House Rats and Mice | David E. Lantz
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