ratter

See also: rätter and Ratter

English

Alternative forms

• rattener (rare)

Etymology

rat +‎ -er

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ætə(ɹ)

Noun

ratter (plural ratters)

1. Anything which catches rats, especially a dog trained to catch them; a rat terrier.

   Coordinate terms: ratcatcher, mouser

   • 1963, J P Donleavy, A Singular Man, published 1963 (USA), pages 90–91:

     Grey cat called Snooky who was a good ratter even with his balls cut off.

2. One who rats; a traitor; a deserter.

   Coordinate terms: stool pigeon, turncoat, coward

3. A pirate miner, a miner who digs out ore or paydirt clandestinely and runs

   Coordinate terms: miner, pirate, tunnel rat

Anagrams

• Tarter, tarter

Norwegian Bokmål

Verb

ratter

1. present tense of ratte