ratとは 意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• enPR: răt, IPA^(key): /ɹæt/
• 韻: -æt

語源 1

From Middle English ratte, rat, rotte, from 古期英語 rætt, from Proto-West Germanic *ratt, from Proto-Germanic *rattaz, *rattō (compare West Frisian rôt, Dutch rat), of uncertain origin, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *reh₁d- (“to scrape, scratch, gnaw”). However, the rat may have been unknown in Northern Europe in antiquity, and the Proto-Germanic word may have referred to a different animal; see *rattaz for more.^[1] Attestation of this family of words begins in the 12th century.^{[citation needed]}.

Some of the Germanic cognates show considerable consonant variation, e.g. Middle Low German ratte, radde; Middle High German rate, ratte, ratze.^[1] The irregularity may be symptomatic of a late dispersal of the word, although Kroonen accounts for it with a Proto-Germanic stem *raþō nom., *ruttaz gen.,^[1] showing both ablaut and a Kluge's law alternation, with the variation arising from varying remodellings in the descendants. Kroonen states that this requires a Proto-Indo-European etymon in final *t and is incompatible with the usual derivation from Proto-Indo-European *reh₁d- (“to scrape, scratch, gnaw”).^[1]

名詞

rat (複数形 rats)

1. (zoology) A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.
   • 2013 May-June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200:

     Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.

2. (informal) Any of the numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles かつ mice) that resemble true rats in appearance, usually having a pointy snout, a long, bare tail, and body length greater than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.
3. (informal) A person who is known for betrayal; a scoundrel; a quisling.

   rat bastard

   • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

     He’s more a man than any pair of rats of you in this here house.

   What a rat, leaving us stranded here!

   • 1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XVIII, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 185:

     "Ah, so you damn rat, this is a put-up job eh?"

4. (informal) An informant or snitch.
5. (informal) A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.
6. (slang) A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.

   Our teenager has become a mall rat.

   He loved hockey and was a devoted rink rat.

7. A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.
8. A roll of material used to puff out the hair, which is turned over it.
9. (UK, north-west London, slang, vulgar) Vagina.

   Get your rat out.

10. (chiefly informal) Short for muskrat.
    • 1910, L. W. Pierce, “Muskrats are fast disappearing”, in Hunter-trader-trapper, page 70:

      The price of rats began to rise and soon after the marsh froze over, spearing rats began, which was done with a one tine three-eighths inch steel rod, with a wooden handle […]

    • 1929, E. J. Dailey, in Hardings Magazine's Question Box, printed in Fur Fish Game, page 73:

      Where natural marshes, or natural foods are found, are best places for raising muskrats. Louisiana and other southern states raise millions of rats, but they do not bring as good prices as northern raised ones. Delaware and Maryland have famed marshes. Other states are becoming noted for muskrat raising, also.

同意語

• (person known for betrayal): traitor (see for more synonyms)
• (informer): stool pigeon

派生語

参考

• mouse
• rodent

動詞

rat (三人称単数 現在形 rats, 現在分詞 ratting, 過去形および過去分詞形 ratted)

1. (usually with “on” または “out”) To betray a person or party, especially by telling their secret to an authority or an enemy; to turn someone in.

   He ratted on his coworker.

   He is going to rat us out!

2. (informal, intransitive) To work as a scab, going against trade union policies.
3. (of a dog, etc.) To kill rats.

同意語

• (to betray someone to an authority): tell on, to finger or put the finger on, bewray

参照

語源 2

From Middle English ratten, further etymology unknown. Compare Middle High German ratzen (“to scratch; rasp; tear”). Could be related to write. See also rit.

名詞

rat (複数形 rats)

1. (regional) A scratch or a score.
2. (nautical, regional) A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.

動詞

rat (三人称単数 現在形 rats, 現在分詞 ratting, 過去形および過去分詞形 ratted)

1. (regional) To scratch or score.

   He ratted a vertical line on his face with a pocket knife.

2. (regional, rare, obsolete) To tear, rip, rend.

   Ratted to shreds.

3. Damn, drat, blast; used in oaths.
   • 1904, Rafael Sabatini, chapter XXVI, in The Tavern Knight:

     “But, rat me, sir,” cried Foster in bewilderment, “tis too generous—'pon honour it is. I can't consent to it. No, rat me, I can't.”

使用する際の注意点

The verb rat is rarely used in the second sense. In the sense to tear, rip, rend, the form to-rat is more common. Compare German zerreißen (“to rip up, tear, rend”).

参照

• The Middle English Dictionary
• The English dialect dictionary

名詞

rat (複数形 rats)

1. (military, slang) A ration.
   • 2014, John, Buffoon (page 243)

     With regards to the testing of his product, the initial blood analysis had come back confirming huge, distinctive nutritional superiority for Stewart's military ration pack. Given that the policy of the British Army is to be fully ready for war at the drop of a hat, he was sitting on the potential of supplying new rats for the entire army […]

派生語

• C-rat

アナグラム

• 'art, ART, ATR, Art, RTA, TAR, Tar, art, art., tar, tra