[Cf. G. wasserratte, -ratz(e, MDu. waterrot (mod.Du. -rat), LG. waterrötte.]
1. An aquatic rodent of the family Muridæ; in British use, the water-vole, Arvicola amphibius, inhabiting the banks of rivers. In the U.S. applied to the MUSK-RAT, and in Australia to the genus Hydromys.
1552. Huloet, Water rat, sorex.
a. 1627. Middleton, Witch, I. i. 45. He … sticks to small drink like a water-rat.
1629. Drayner Confirmed (1647), C 1. There is also an other danger in Banking, procured by a small contemptible Vermine, they be Water-rats, which make their holes in the bank close to the water [etc.].
1633. Ford, Broken H., II. i. Island? prison:… whom shall we see there? Sea-guls, and Porpiseis, and water-rats?
1752. J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 518. The water Rat…. This is considerably larger than the common rat, and of a different colour; the head is large, and sharp at the extremity.
1768. Pennant, Brit. Zool., I. 101. The water-rat never frequents houses.
a. 1860. Wynter, Curios. Civiliz., 133. The water-rat is a rare animal compared with … the common brown or Norway rat.
1876. F. G. Waterhouse, in Harcus, S. Austral., 282. The curious water-rats or beaver-rats must be mentioned as being purely Australian.
1890. D. Davidson, Mem. Long Life, iv. 95. Herds of cattle swim these flooded rivers like water-rats.
2. fig. A water-thief, pirate. Also applied contemptuously to a sailor, boatman, or the like.
1595. Shaks., Merch. V., I. iii. 23. There be land rats, and water rats, water theeues, and land theeues.
1602. Rowlands, Greenes Ghost (1872), 38. To this societie maie be coupled also another fraternity, viz. Water-rats, Watermen I meane, that will be readie and very diligent for anie man, vntil they can get them to their boates, but when [etc.].
1608. J. Day, Law Trickes, V. I 2 b. Lur. No more a that, neece; y’are a wag. Em. Well said, old Water Ratt.
a. 1656. R. Cox, Actæon & Diana, 36. Cut. Where is he, Parnell? Parn. Why gone abroad … to fetch a gang of Saylors, who he vows shal hang thee up at the main Yard…. Cut. And those same water-rats are Divellish things.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., I. xiv. ‘A man may speak.’ ‘And vermin may be silent,’ said Eugene. ‘Hold your tongue, you water-rat!’
1903. Hardy, Dynasts, I. VI. i. These water-rats [the English] may paddle in their salt slush.
