German edit

Etymology edit

From Ratte (rat) +‎ -n- +‎ Fänger (catcher). Sense 3 from the folk tale Der Rattenfänger von Hameln ("The Pied Piper of Hamelin").

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): [ˈʁatn̩ˌfɛŋɐ]
  • (file)

Noun edit

Rattenfänger m (strong, genitive Rattenfängers, plural Rattenfänger)

  1. ratcatcher
  2. rat dog
  3. (figuratively) pied piper, demagogue

Declension edit

Related terms edit

Further reading edit