DCHP-1 Online
rat ((n.)) Northwest 
1 n. an aquatic rodent, Ondatra zibethica, common to many parts of North America and widely trapped for its valuable fur.
See also: muskrat (def. 1)
- 1584 (1877) There is greate store of . . . bevers, squirrells, badgers, and ratts excedinge greate, and divers other sortes of beastes for huntinge.
- 1824 (1955) Saw no appearance of the Otter, Rat or Mink [n] or have we yet seen any in the Rocky mountains. . . .
- 1962 Get a "Y" shaped stick and put the rat on it and roast slowly over an open fire.
2 n. the valuable fur of the muskrat.
See also: muskrat (def. 2)
- 1800 (1933) The first paid his Debt, the next, gave 40 Ratts en present, &. [telling] me he expected at least a Keg, &. a little stronger than I generally made it.
- 1944 I have caught both good and poor rats in both lakes and streams, and from my observations I am forced to believe that it is the food which makes the pelt wherever he is, and in the northwest we get the best rats from the lakes or marshes.
- 1962 (1964) Rats were made up into uniform packages of 600 rats and 2 large beaver.
3 n. the flesh of the muskrat used as food.
See also: muskrat (def. 3)
- 1882 They are living principally on rats and jackfish from Buffalo Lake.
- 1962 Duck . . . is good to eat when tired of roasted rat when hunting rats in the springtime.
- 1584 (1877) There is greate store of . . . bevers, squirrells, badgers, and ratts excedinge greate, and divers other sortes of beastes for huntinge.