water rat

noun

1

: a rodent that frequents water

2

: a waterfront loafer or petty thief

Examples of water rat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists suspect the creatures’ diets changed because of the arrival of a new competitor, the Australian water rat, or rakali, reports the Sydney Morning Herald’s Angus Dalton. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2024

The researchers think competition for food caused the disappearance of teeth in the platypus—the spread of the Australo-New Guinean water rat may have affected which prey platypuses hunted for. — Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 7 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for water rat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat

Kids Definition

water rat

noun

: a rodent that is found in or near water