| flea-louse | <zoology> A jumping plant louse of the family Psyllidae, of many species. That of the pear tree is Psylla pyri. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| rat | 1. <zoology> 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. 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. "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." Bamboo rat, any American rat of the genus Neotoma, especially N. Floridana, common in the Southern United States. Its feet and belly are white. Origin: AS. Raet; akin to D. Rat, OHG. Rato, ratta, G. Ratte, ratze, OLG. Ratta, LG. & Dan. Rotte, Sw. Ratta, F. Rat, Ir. & Gael radan, Armor. Raz, of unknown origin. Cf. Raccoon. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| rat-bite disease | A syndrome characterised by recurring fever, rash, and arthralgias occurring days to weeks after a rat bite. The causative agents are either streptobacillus moniliformis or spirillum minus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rat-bite fever | A syndrome characterised by recurring fever, rash, and arthralgias occurring days to weeks after a rat bite. The causative agents are either streptobacillus moniliformis or spirillum minus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| rat leprosy | A slowly but progressively fatal form of leprosy occurring in rats, caused by Mycobacterium lepraemurium; it appears in two forms, glandular and musculocutaneous; causes induration, alopecia, and eventually ulceration. Synonym: mouse leprosy, murine leprosy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rat mite dermatitis | An eruption of wheals, papules, or vesicles caused by the rat mite. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rat sialodacryoadenitis virus | A coronavirus causing sialodacryoadenitis in rats. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rat-tail | 1. <veterinary> An excrescence growing from the pastern to the middle of the shank of a horse. 2. <zoology> The California chimaera. See Chimaera. Any fish of the genus Macrurus. See Grenadier. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| rat-tailed | <zoology> Having a long, tapering tail like that of a rat. <zoology> Rat-tailed larva, the musk shrew. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water rat | 1. <zoology> The water vole. See Vole. The muskrat. The beaver rat. See Beaver. 2. A thief on the water; a pirate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| coronavirus, rat | A species of coronavirus causing pneumonia in newborn rats but a clinically inapparent infection in adults. It is separate but antigenetically related to mouse hepatitis virus (gastroenteritis virus, murine). (12 Dec 1998) |
| sea rat | 1. A pirate. 2. <zoology> The chimaera. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Kilham rat virus | A virus of the genus Parvovirus causing inapparent infection in rats; also recoverable from rat tumours. Synonym: latent rat virus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| latent rat virus | A virus of the genus Parvovirus causing inapparent infection in rats; also recoverable from rat tumours. Synonym: latent rat virus. (05 Mar 2000) |