water rat

noun

any of various rodents having aquatic habits.

the muskrat, Ondatra zibethica.

(in Australia and New Guinea) any of the aquatic rats of the subfamily Hydromyinae, especially of the genus Hydromys.

Slang. a vagrant or thief who frequents a waterfront.

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Origin of water rat

First recorded in 1545–55

Words nearby water rat

water poppy, water power, water pox, water purslane, water rail, water rat, water rate, water rice, water right, water sapphire, water scorpion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for water rat

The surmulot, in some of its habits, resembles the water-rat.
Buffon's Natural History. Volume VI (of 10)|Georges Louis Leclerc de Buffon
The chase did not always afford them sufficient food, and at times they were forced to subsist on the water-rat.
A Manual of the Antiquity of Man|J. P. MacLean
The water-rat was as well as could be expected, but did not quite like the new aspect of affairs.
Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour|R. S. Surtees
Carefully looking over that side again, the moorhen who had been out rushed back; the water-rat was gone.
Nature Near London|Richard Jefferies

The water-rat dives with a tremendous splash as he sees the big monster glide by his sedge home.
Pony Tracks|Frederic Remington

British Dictionary definitions for water rat

water rat

noun

any of several small amphibious rodents, esp the water vole or the muskrat

any of various amphibious rats of the subfamily Hydromyinae, of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Australia

informal a person who is very fond of water sports

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