Mole, n.
 1. Zool. Any insectivore of the family Talpidae.  They have minute eyes and ears, soft fur, and very large and strong fore feet.
 Note: ☞ The common European mole, or moldwarp (Talpa Europaea), is noted for its extensive burrows.  The common American mole, or shrew mole (Scalops aquaticus), and star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) have similar habits.
 Note: ☞ In the Scriptures, the name is applied to two unindentified animals, perhaps the chameleon and mole rat.
 2. A plow of peculiar construction, for forming underground drains. [U.S.]
 Duck mole. See under Duck.
 Golden mole. See Chrysochlore.
 Mole cricket Zool., an orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllotalpa, which excavates subterranean galleries, and throws up mounds of earth resembling those of the mole.  It is said to do damage by injuring the roots of plants.  The common European species (Gryllotalpa vulgaris), and the American (Gryllotalpa borealis), are the best known.
 Mole rat Zool., any one of several species of Old World rodents of the genera Spalax, Georychus, and several allied genera.  They are molelike in appearance and habits, and their eyes are small or rudimentary.
 Mole shrew Zool., any one of several species of short-tailed American shrews of the genus Blarina, esp. Blarina brevicauda.
 Water mole, the duck mole.
 Rat n.
 1. Zool. One of several species of small rodents of the genus Rattus (formerly included in Mus) and allied genera, of the family Muridae, distinguished from mice primarily by being larger.  They infest houses, stores, and ships, especially the Norway rat, also called brown rat, (Rattus norvegicus formerly Mus decumanus), the black rat (Rattus rattus formerly Mus rattus), and the roof rat (formerly Mus Alexandrinus, now included in Rattus rattus). These were introduced into America from the Old World.  The white rat used most commonly in laboratories is primarily a strain derived from Rattus rattus.
 2. A round and tapering mass of hair, or similar material, used by women to support the puffs and rolls of their natural hair. [Local, U.S.]
 3. One who deserts his party or associates; hence, in the trades, one who works for lower wages than those prescribed by a trades union. [Cant]
 Note: ☞ “It so chanced that, not long after the accession of the house of Hanover, some of the brown, that is the German or Norway, rats, were first brought over to this country (in some timber as is said); and being much stronger than the black, or, till then, the common, rats, they in many places quite extirpated the latter. The word (both the noun and the verb to rat) was first, as we have seen, leveled at the converts to the government of George the First, but has by degrees obtained a wider meaning, and come to be applied to any sudden and mercenary change in politics.”
 Bamboo rat Zool., any Indian rodent of the genus Rhizomys.
 Beaver rat, Coast rat. Zool. See under Beaver and Coast.
 Blind rat Zool., the mole rat.
 Cotton rat Zool., a long-haired rat (Sigmodon hispidus), native of the Southern United States and Mexico. It makes its nest of cotton and is often injurious to the crop.
 Ground rat. See Ground Pig, under Ground.
 Hedgehog rat. See under Hedgehog.
 Kangaroo rat Zool., the potoroo.
 Norway rat Zool., the common brown rat. See Rat.
 Pouched rat. Zool. (a) See Pocket Gopher, under Pocket. (b) Any African rodent of the genus Cricetomys. Rat Indians Ethnol., a tribe of Indians dwelling near Fort Ukon, Alaska.  They belong to the Athabascan stock.
 Rat mole. Zool. See Mole rat, under Mole.
 Rat pit, an inclosed space into which rats are put to be killed by a dog for sport.
 Rat snake Zool., a large colubrine snake (Ptyas mucosus) very common in India and Ceylon.  It enters dwellings, and destroys rats, chickens, etc.
 Spiny rat Zool., any South American rodent of the genus Echinomys.
 To smell a rat. See under Smell.
 Wood rat Zool., any American rat of the genus Neotoma, especially Neotoma Floridana, common in the Southern United States. Its feet and belly are white.
 Sle·pez n.  Zool. A burrowing rodent (Spalax typhlus), native of Russia and Asia Minor. It has the general appearance of a mole, and is destitute of eyes. Called also mole rat.
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 mole rat
      n 1: African rodent resembling a mole in habits and appearance
      2: furry short-limbed tailless rodent resembling a true mole in
         habits and appearance; of eastern Europe and Middle East
      3: burrowing scaly-tailed rat of India and Ceylon [syn: bandicoot
         rat]