English

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Noun

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'rat (plural 'rats)

  1. (chiefly informal) Short for muskrat.
    • 1949, Ted O'Neil, The Muskrat in the Louisiana Coastal Marshes: A Study of the Ecological, Geological, Biological, Tidal and Climatic Factors Governing the Production and Management of the Muskrat Industry in Louisiana, page 93 to 94:
      The 1946-47 catch of 68,656 is approximately 23 'rats per acre over the 3,000 acres of producing marches. The additional sea-rims and ridges were not trapped. To trap this number of 'rats per acre the marshes must carry at least 30 to 35 animals per acre [] . If ignited by lightning or other agencies during dry spells these will suffer damage to 'rat populations.
    • 1997, Shawn Thompson, Soul of the River: Life in the Thousand Islands, GeneralStore PublishingHouse, →ISBN, page 44:
      He useta trap otter, mink, mushkrats, and bear, wolves. You just love it. He taught us how to skin 'rats and stuff like that. I was 'bout ten.
    • 2017, Kenny Salwey, J. Scott Bestul, Last River Rat: Kenny Salwey's Life in the Wild, Fulcrum Publishing, →ISBN:
      Part of that muskrat courage is a defense mechanism that comes from being picked on, as muskrats are fodder for virtually every predator going: fox, eagle, hawk, mink—even a snapping turtle will take a young muskrat on occasion, tugging it underwater and drowning it as the female 'rat swims on, unsuspecting. [] Kenny finds a 'rat in each of the next three sets, []

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