bilge ratとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

Derived from the actual pests living in the bilge, the lowest, filthiest part of a ship.

名詞

bilge rat (plural bilge rats)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bilge,‎ rat.
2. (idiomatic, nautical, slang) An insulting term for a dirty, low-ranked, or untrustworthy person.
   • 1970, Robert Tralins, Panther John‎, page 64:

     He decapitated the man with one blow and continued to chop at his corpse even before it had stopped jerking and rolling on the ground. Like a man berserk, Juan turned and confronted his crew, the blood and gore dripping from his blade which he waved in his hand. “This bilge rat was the one who betrayed us. Let this be a reminder to all of you that no one betrays Panther John. [...]”

   • 1991, Unattributed, “Do you think anybody will come back on Thursday? Should I close the school? Or just leave town?”, in Playboy‎, page 204:

     hell, he was a bilge rat, never in any port long enough to move up in rank

   • 2002, Spongebob Squarepants, season 3, episode 47b "Can You Spare a Dime?", spoken by Mr. Krabs:

     You can't put a price on me first dime! And I can't forgive that thievin' bilge rat Squidward for stealin' it!

使用する際の注意点

Prevalently used in pirate fiction.

参考

• landlubber
• scallywag
• scum
• swab