wharf rat

American  

noun

1. a large brown rat that is commonly found on wharves.

2. a person who lives or loiters near wharves, often existing by pilfering from ships or warehouses.

---

wharf rat British  

noun

1. any rat, usually a brown rat, that infests wharves

2. informal a person who haunts wharves, usually for dishonest purposes

---

Etymology

Origin of wharf rat

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wharf rat

There is the misnamed Norway rat — also called the brown, sewer or wharf rat — actually a native from northern China or Mongolia.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 13, 2023

Like many children in fishing villages, O'Brien was a "wharf rat", making pocket money cutting out and selling cod tongues by the dozen or the pound.

From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2017

The Lieutenant-Colonel, you know, told that wharf rat of an Adjutant before the General, that he would not dare to make such mis-statements away from Division Head-quarters.

From Red-Tape and Pigeon-Hole Generals As Seen From the Ranks During a Campaign in the Army of the Potomac by Armstrong, William H.

Oh, I’d be sorer’n a scalded wharf rat in a barrel of pepper.

From Cap'n Warren's Wards by Lincoln, Joseph Crosby

To our surprise that evil-looking wharf rat smiled and waved his hand reassuringly, then took the old woman by the arm to show her where the coin had fallen.

From African Camp Fires by White, Stewart Edward