vole

[ vohl ]

/ voʊl /

noun

any of several small mouselike or ratlike rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera, having short limbs and a short tail.

Nearby words

Origin of vole

1795–1805; short for volemouse field mouse, perhaps < Norwegian *vollmus, equivalent to voll field (cf. wold¹) + mus mouse

Definition for vole (2 of 2)

vole

[ vohl ]

/ voʊl /

noun

Cards. the winning by one player of all the tricks of a deal.

Origin of vole

1670–80; < French, derivative of voler to fly < Latin volāre

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vole

With most diseases spread by rodents, the mouse or rat or vole is only an intermediary (a “host”) for fleas and lice and the like.
Yosemite Hanta Virus: Nature Strikes Back|Kent Sepkowitz|September 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The reason for the heavy diet of Microtus seems to be that both the owl and the vole are especially active at dusk.
A Population Study of the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) in Northeastern Kansas|Edwin P. Martin
Four of these were collected also from other small mammals living in the same habitat as this vole.
Natural History of the Prairie Vole (Mammalian Genus Microtus)|E. W. Jameson
I have the vole and the king, said Croque, marking three points.
Paul and His Dog, v.2 (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XIV)|Charles Paul de Kock

Oh, might I vole to some umbrageous clump,— Depart—be off—exude—evade—erump!
Quips and Quiddities|William Davenport Adams
The player who wins three tricks scores one for the “point”; if he wins all five tricks, he scores two for the “vole.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 9|Various

British Dictionary definitions for vole (1 of 2)

vole

/ (vəʊl) /

noun

any of numerous small rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera, mostly of Eurasia and North America and having a stocky body, short tail, and inconspicuous ears: family CricetidaeSee also water vole

Word Origin for vole

C19: short for volemouse, from Old Norse vollr field + mus mouse; related to Icelandic vollarmus

British Dictionary definitions for vole (2 of 2)

vole

/ (vəʊl) /

noun

(in some card games, such as écarté) the taking of all the tricks in a deal, thus scoring extra points

Word Origin for vole

C17: from French, from voler to fly, from Latin volāre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vole

vole

1805, volemouse, literally "field-mouse," with first element probably from Old Norse völlr "field," from Proto-Germanic *walthuz (cf. Icelandic völlr, Swedish vall "field," Old English weald; see wold).