RATTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ratter mean? 

• RATTER (noun)
  The noun RATTER has 2 senses:

1. a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.

2. any of several breeds of terrier developed to catch rats

  Familiarity information: RATTER used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RATTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

apostate; deserter; ratter; recreant; renegade; turncoat

Hypernyms ("ratter" is a kind of...):

quitter (a person who gives up too easily)

Derivation:

rat (give away information about somebody)

rat (take the place of work of someone on strike)

rat (employ scabs or strike breakers in)

rat (desert one's party or group of friends, for example, for one's personal advantage)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any of several breeds of terrier developed to catch rats

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

rat terrier; ratter

Hypernyms ("ratter" is a kind of...):

terrier (any of several usually small short-bodied breeds originally trained to hunt animals living underground)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ratter"):

black-and-tan terrier; Manchester terrier (a breed of short-haired rat terrier with a black-and-tan coat that was developed in Manchester, England)

Derivation:

rat (catch rats, especially with dogs)