資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Rat \Rat\, n. [AS. r[ae]t; akin to D. rat, OHG. rato, ratta, G.
ratte, ratze, OLG. ratta, LG. & Dan. rotte, Sw. r[*a]tta, F.
rat, Ir. & Gael radan, Armor. raz, of unknown origin. Cf.
{Raccoon}.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) One of the several species of small rodents of
the genus {Mus} and allied genera, larger than mice, that
infest houses, stores, and ships, especially the Norway,
or brown, rat ({M. Alexandrinus}). These were introduced
into Anerica from the Old World.
2. A round and tapering mass of hair, or similar material,
used by women to support the puffs and rolls of their
natural hair. [Local, U.S.]
3. One who deserts his party or associates; hence, in the
trades, one who works for lower wages than those
prescribed by a trades union. [Cant]
Note: ``It so chanced that, not long after the accession of
the house of Hanover, some of the brown, that is the
German or Norway, rats, were first brought over to this
country (in some timber as is said); and being much
stronger than the black, or, till then, the common,
rats, they in many places quite extirpated the latter.
The word (both the noun and the verb to rat) was first,
as we have seen, leveled at the converts to the
government of George the First, but has by degrees
obtained a wide meaning, and come to be applied to any
sudden and mercenary change in politics.'' --Lord
Mahon.
{Bamboo rat} (Zo["o]l.), any Indian rodent of the genus
{Rhizomys}.
{Beaver rat}, {Coast rat}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Beaver} and
{Coast}.
{Blind rat} (Zo["o]l.), the mole rat.
{Cotton rat} (Zo["o]l.), a long-haired rat ({Sigmodon
hispidus}), native of the Southern United States and
Mexico. It makes its nest of cotton and is often injurious
to the crop.
{Ground rat}. See {Ground Pig}, under {Ground}.
{Hedgehog rat}. See under {Hedgehog}.
{Kangaroo rat} (Zo["o]l.), the potoroo.
{Norway rat} (Zo["o]l.), the common brown rat. See {Rat}.
{Pouched rat}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) See {Pocket Gopher}, under {Pocket}.
(b) Any African rodent of the genus {Cricetomys}.
{Rat Indians} (Ethnol.), a tribe of Indians dwelling near
Fort Ukon, Alaska. They belong to Athabascan stock.
{Rat mole}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Mole rat}, under {Mole}.
{Rat pit}, an inclosed space into which rats are put to be
killed by a dog for sport.
{Rat snake} (Zo["o]l.), a large colubrine snake ({Ptyas
mucosus}) very common in India and Ceylon. It enters
dwellings, and destroys rats, chickens, etc.
{Spiny rat} (Zo["o]l.), any South America rodent of the genus
{Echinomys}.
{To smell a rat}. See under {Smell}.
{Wood rat} (Zo["o]l.), any American rat of the genus
{Neotoma}, especially {N. Floridana}, common in the
Southern United States. Its feet and belly are white.
Hedgehog \Hedge"hog`\, n.
1. (Zo["o]l.) A small European insectivore ({Erinaceus
Europ[ae]us}), and other allied species of Asia and
Africa, having the hair on the upper part of its body
mixed with prickles or spines. It is able to roll itself
into a ball so as to present the spines outwardly in every
direction. It is nocturnal in its habits, feeding chiefly
upon insects.
2. (Zo["o]l.) The Canadian porcupine.[U.S]
3. (Bot.) A species of {Medicago} ({M. intertexta}), the pods
of which are armed with short spines; -- popularly so
called. --Loudon.
4. A form of dredging machine. --Knight.
{Hedgehog caterpillar} (Zo["o]l.), the hairy larv[ae] of
several species of bombycid moths, as of the Isabella
moth. It curls up like a hedgehog when disturbed. See
{Woolly bear}, and {Isabella moth}.
{Hedgehog fish} (Zo["o]l.), any spinose plectognath fish,
esp. of the genus {Diodon}; the porcupine fish.
{Hedgehog grass} (Bot.), a grass with spiny involucres,
growing on sandy shores; burgrass ({Cenchrus
tribuloides}).
{Hedgehog rat} (Zo["o]l.), one of several West Indian
rodents, allied to the porcupines, but with ratlike tails,
and few quills, or only stiff bristles. The hedgehog rats
belong to {Capromys}, {Plagiodon}, and allied genera.
{Hedgehog shell} (Zo["o]l.), any spinose, marine, univalve
shell of the genus {Murex}.
{Hedgehog thistle} (Bot.), a plant of the Cactus family,
globular in form, and covered with spines
({Echinocactus}).
{Sea hedgehog}. See {Diodon}.