Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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name
The first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any of the numerous members of several rodent families that usually have short limbs, a pointy snout, a long, hairless tail, and a body length greater than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person who is known for betrayal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
Synonyms: fink, ratfink, betrayer, snake in the grass, quisling, traitor, backstabber, cockatrice, double-crosser, rat, ratter, recreant, renegade, serpent, snake, swike, treacher, treacherer, treasonist, turntippet, withersake, wolf in sheep's clothing, rouge, scoundrel, antimodel, bad guy, baddie, bastard, beggar, blackguard, bounder, cad, coistril, evildoer, fustilarian, harlot, heavy, knave, lidderon, makeshift, miscreant, ne'er-do-well, niding, nithing, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scab, scamp, scapegrace, scum, scumbag, thug, undesirable, varlet, villain
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: jerk, person, assbag, assbreath, assbucket, asschunk, asscunt, assface, assfag, assfaggot, assfuck, assfucker, asshat, asshead, asshole, assmonkey, assmouth, assmunch, assmuncher, asstard, asswagon, assweed, asswipe, bag of dicks, ball sack, ballsucker, barf bag, bastard, berk, bitchcunt, bitchface, bitchfuck, bitchwhore, blackguard, buttface, butthead, buttmunch, buttmuncher, choad, chunderhead, chunk-blower, cockatrice, cockbag, cockbreath, cockface, cockfag, cockfuck, cockfucker, cock gobbler, cockhead, cock-knocker, cockmonger, cockmunch, cockmuncher, cocksack, cockshit, cocksuck, cocksucker, cockwad, cockwaffle, cockweasel, cockwipe, crapface, craphead, cullion, cumbucket, cum guzzler, cumrag, cumstain, cunt, cuntard, cuntass, cuntbag, cuntbiscuit, cuntbitch, cuntbreath, cuntbucket, cuntface, cuntfuck, cuntfucker, cunthead, cuntlapper, cuntlicker, cuntmuffin, cunt muncher, cuntrag, cuntshit, cuntstain, cuntsucker, cuntwad, cuntwaffle, cuntweasel, cuntweed, cuntwhacker, cuntwipe, dick, dickass, dickbag, dickbiscuit, dickbreath, dickbucket, dickface, dickfuck, dickfucker, dickhead, dicklicker, dick munch, dick muncher, dicknose, dicknut, dicksack, dickshit, dickslap, dicksneeze, dickstain, dickster, dicksucker, dicktard, dickwad, dickweasel, dickweed, dickwipe, dillweed, dipfuck, dipshit, dirtbag, dirthead, dirtwad, douche, douchebag, douche boat, doucheburger, douchecanoe, douchelord, douche nozzle, douchewad, douchewagon, fag, faggot, faggotface, fuck, fuckass, fuckbag, fuckball, fuckbucket, fuckchop, fucker, fuckface, fuckhead, fucklord, fuckmitten, fuckmuffin, fucknose, fucknozzle, fuckoid, fuckrod, fuckshit, fuckstain, fuckster, fuckstick, fuckskull, fucktrumpet, fuckwaffle, fuckweed, fuckwit, fuckweasel, fucktard, git, hosebag, jackass, jackoff, jagoff, jagweed, jerkball, jerko, jerkoff, jerkwad, jerkweed, jitbag, jizzbag, knob-gobbler, knob polisher, lowlife, meanie, nark, nutsack, paddock, penishead, piece of crap, piece of garbage, piece of junk, piece of shit, piece of trash, piece of work, pile of crap, pile of shit, pig, pissbag, pissface, pisshead, pisspot, prick, prickface, prickhead, prickwad, pukeball, pukestain, pusbag, pushead, pussybreath, sack of shit, schmuck, scoundrel, scum, scumbag, scumbreath, scumbug, scumbutt, scumface, scumfuck, scumhead, scumhole, scumlord, scunge, scuzz, scuzzball, scuzzbucket, scuzzoid, shitass, shitball, shitbag, shitbeast, shitbird, shitbiscuit, shitbreath, shitbucket, shitcock, shitcunt, shitdick, shiteater, shitface, shitfuck, shitfucker, shitgibbon, shitgoblin, shitguzzler, shithead, shitheap, shitheel, shithook, shitlicker, shitlord, shitmuncher, shitneck, shitnugget, shitnuts, shitpiss, shitpot, shitrag, shitsack, shitstain, shitwad, shitwaffle, shitweasel, shitweed, sleaze, sleazeball, sleazebag, sleazebucket, sleazehole, sleazewad, slimebucket, slimeface, slimehole, slimewad, snotbag, snotball, snotface, snothead, snotrag, snotwad, sourhead, squib, swine, thundercunt, tool, tosser, tosspot, turdbreath, turdface, turdhead, undesirable, vonce, wanker, wankface, wankfart, wankhead, wankpuffin, wankstain, weasel, wet wipe
noun
An informant or snitch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: fink, ratfink, stool pigeon, abaddon, accuser, beefer, bewrayer, bigmouth, blabber, blabtale, blabtongue, canary, CI, finger, fizgig, gossip, grass, informant, informer, jurat, leak, mole, narc, nark, nonce, outer, peacher, quisling, rat, rooster, sneak, snitch, snout, squealer, state's evidence, stooge, stoolie, supergrass, sycophant, tattler, tattletale, telltale tit, telltale, tout, whistleblower
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: fink, ratfink, blackleg, knobstick, scalie
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A roll of material used to puff out the hair, which is turned over it.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Vagina, vulva.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, slang, vulgar
Qualifier: north-west London
Synonyms: beaver, pussy, axe wound, badly packed kebab, bearded clam, beef curtains, burger, chocha, clam, cooch, coochie, coochy, cookie, coot, cooter, crack, cunny, cunt, fanny, foo-foo, front bottom, fur burger, fur pie, gash, gee, girl penis, hair pie, ham sandwich, honey hole, it, kebab, kitty, ladybits, minge, minnie, moocha, mooshoo, mott, muff, muffin, na-na, nonny, nooky, noonie, old hat, pee flap, pee-pee, pink, poontang, prat, pudendum muliebre, punani, quaint, quiff, quim, rat, roast beef, scut, slit, slot, snatch, treasures, tuppence, twat, twinkle, vadge, vagina, vajay, va-jay-jay, vulva, wee-wee, yoni
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Ellipsis of muskrat.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A scratch or a score.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: regional
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: regional
Topics: nautical, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A ration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Initialism of rapid antigen test.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism
Topics: medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Initialism of Rapid Area Transit.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism
Qualifier: public transportation
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Initialism of ram air turbine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism
Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Initialism of remote-access Trojan.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, initialism
Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Initialism of relevant alternatives theory.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To hunt or kill rats.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To betray a political party, cause or principle; to betray someone, to desert a person or thing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To work as a scab, going against trade union policies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To backcomb (hair).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To inform on someone; to betray someone to the police or authorities.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Qualifier: with on or out
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To scratch or score.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: regional
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To tear, rip, rend.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, rare, regional
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Damn, drat, blast; used in oaths.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rodent, gnawer
Narrower terms: pocket rat, brown rat, Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus, black rat, roof rat, Rattus rattus, bandicoot rat, mole rat, jerboa rat, rice rat, Oryzomys palustris
noun
a pad (usually made of hair) worn as part of a woman's coiffure
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pad
noun
one who reveals confidential information in return for money
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: informer, betrayer, squealer, blabber
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: informant, source
Narrower terms: fink, snitch, snitcher, stoolpigeon, stool pigeon, stoolie, sneak, sneaker, canary, nark, copper's nark, supergrass, grass
noun
a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: rotter, dirty dog, skunk, stinker, stinkpot, bum, puke, crumb, lowlife, scum bag, so-and-so, git
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: unpleasant person, disagreeable person
noun
someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: scab, strikebreaker, blackleg
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: worker
verb
give away information about somebody
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: denounce, tell on, betray, give away, grass, shit, shop, snitch, stag
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: inform
Narrower terms: sell out
verb
catch rats, especially with dogs
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: capture, catch
verb
give (hair) the appearance of being fuller by using a rat
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: pad, fill out
verb
take the place of work of someone on strike
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: fink, scab, blackleg
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: work, do work
verb
employ scabs or strike breakers in
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hire, engage, employ
verb
desert one's party or group of friends, for example, for one's personal advantage
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: defect, desert
History
From Middle English raat, rat, ratt, ratte, rotte, from Old English ræt, rætt, from Proto-West Germanic *ratt, from Proto-Germanic *rattaz, *rattō (“rat”), of uncertain origin, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *Hreh3d- (“to gnaw, scrape, scratch”). However, the rat may have been unknown in Northern Europe in antiquity, and the Proto-Germanic word may have referred to a different animal; see *rattaz for more. Attestation of this family of words begins in the 12th century. Cognates Cognate with North Frisian root (“rat”), Saterland Frisian Rotte (“rat”), West Frisian rôt (“rat”), Dutch rat, rot (“rat”), German Ratte (“rat”), Luxembourgish Rat (“rat”), Vilamovian rot, rott (“rat”), Yiddish ראַץ (rats, “rat”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål rotte (“rat”), Faroese and Icelandic rotta (“rat”), Norwegian Nynorsk rotta, rotte, røtte (“rat”), Swedish råtta (“rat”), Latin rattus, ratus (“rat”) (whence Asturian ratu (“mouse”), Catalan rata (“rat”), French rat (“rat”), Italian ratto (“rat”), Portuguese rato (“rat”), Spanish rata (“rat”), rato (“male rat”)); also Latin rōdō (“to bite, gnaw, nibble; to backbite, disparage, slander”), Sanskrit रदति (radati, “to scrape, scratch; to cut path, pave; to lead river into a channel; to bestow, convey”). Some of the Germanic cognates show considerable consonant variation, e.g. Middle Low German ratte, radde; Middle High German rate, ratte, ratze. The irregularity may be symptomatic of a late dispersal of the word, although Kroonen accounts for it with a Proto-Germanic stem *raþō nom., *ruttaz gen., showing both ablaut and a Kluge's law alternation, with the variation arising from varying remodellings in the descendants. Kroonen states that this requires a Proto-Indo-European etymon in final *t and is incompatible with the usual derivation from Proto-Indo-European *Hreh3d- (“to scrape, scratch, gnaw”).
From Middle English ratten, further etymology unknown. Compare Middle Low German retten (“to tear, tear up”), Middle High German ratzen (“to scratch; rasp; tear”). Could be related to write. See also rit.
Across languages
386 source translations are retained for this English entry.
