wharf rat

Wharf rat — Wharf Wharf, n.; pl. {Wharfs}or {Wharves}. [AS. hwerf, hwearf, a returning, a change, from hweorfan to turn, turn about, go about; akin to D. werf a wharf, G. werft, Sw. varf a shipbuilder s yard, Dan. verft wharf, dockyard, G. werben to enlist,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

wharf rat — ☆ wharf rat n. 1. any of various rats found around wharves 2. a vagrant or petty criminal who haunts wharves …   English World dictionary

wharf rat — noun 1. someone who lives near wharves and lives by pilfering from ships or warehouses • Hypernyms: ↑sneak thief, ↑pilferer, ↑snitcher 2. brown rat that infests wharves • Hypernyms: ↑brown rat, ↑Norway rat, ↑Rattus …   Useful english dictionary

wharf rat — 1. a large brown rat that is commonly found on wharves. 2. a person who lives or loiters near wharves, often existing by pilfering from ships or warehouses. [1815 25, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

wharf rat — noun An alternative term for the brown rat …   Wiktionary

Wharf — Wharf, n.; pl. {Wharfs}or {Wharves}. [AS. hwerf, hwearf, a returning, a change, from hweorfan to turn, turn about, go about; akin to D. werf a wharf, G. werft, Sw. varf a shipbuilder s yard, Dan. verft wharf, dockyard, G. werben to enlist, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Wharf boat — Wharf Wharf, n.; pl. {Wharfs}or {Wharves}. [AS. hwerf, hwearf, a returning, a change, from hweorfan to turn, turn about, go about; akin to D. werf a wharf, G. werft, Sw. varf a shipbuilder s yard, Dan. verft wharf, dockyard, G. werben to enlist,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

wharf — late O.E. hwearf shore, bank where ships can tie up, earlier dam, embankment, from P.Gmc. *khwarfaz (Cf. M.L.G. werf mole, dam, wharf, Ger. Werft shipyard, dockyard ); related to O.E. hwearfian to turn, perhaps in a sense implying busy activity,… …   Etymology dictionary

Wharf Rats — The Wharf Rats are a group of concert goers who have chosen to live drug and alcohol free. Their primary purpose at shows is to make themselves available to anyone who feels the Wharf Rats may have something they want. They announce their… …   Wikipedia

rat — ratlike, adj. /rat/, n., interj., v., ratted, ratting. n. 1. any of several long tailed rodents of the family Muridae, of the genus Rattus and related genera, distinguished from the mouse by being larger. 2. any of various similar or related… …   Universalium

rat — Synonyms and related words: Angora goat, Arctic fox, Belgian hare, Benedict Arnold, Brutus, Caffre cat, Indian buffalo, Judas, Judas Iscariot, Kodiak bear, Quisling, SOB, Virginia deer, aardvark, aardwolf, alpaca, anteater, antelope, antelope… …   Moby Thesaurus