vole

¹ American  

[vohl] / voʊl /

noun

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

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vole ² American  

[vohl] / voʊl /

noun

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

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idioms

1. go the vole,

   1. to venture everything on the chance of great rewards.

   2. to try one after another, as a variety of occupations.

      He went the vole and finally settled on watchmaking.

vole ¹ British  

/ vəʊl /

noun

1. 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 Cricetidae See also water vole

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vole ² British  

/ vəʊl /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of vole¹

1795–1805; short for volemouse field mouse, perhaps < Norwegian *vollmus, equivalent to voll field ( cf. wold ¹) + mus mouse

Origin of vole²

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

Example Sentences

Willie Mullins runs Cooldine and J'y Vole, who both ran well in the rearranged John Durkan Chase, while stablemate Kempes will join them.

From The Guardian • Dec. 27, 2010

J'y Vole, of course, would also have to be counted as unlucky, as she finished alongside Poquelin after all the bumping and barging.

From The Guardian • Mar. 25, 2010

Poquelin, for my money, was one of the unlucky horses last week, as he had a prolonged barging match with J'y Vole from the home turn, just at the point when he needed to accelerate.

From The Guardian • Mar. 25, 2010

Vole mamas can have a litter every three weeks, all summer long, and all winter, too, if they find a good place to feast and hide.

From Washington Post

Colin Vole huddled piteously on some dirty sacking in a corner, while Mr. Abram Vole and his wife battered away at the door with their paws tied together.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques