wharf rat


noun

a large brown rat that is commonly found on wharves.
a person who lives or loiters near wharves, often existing by pilfering from ships or warehouses.

Origin of wharf rat

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example sentences from the Web for wharf rat

  • Jack guessed why Gray had tried to irritate him,—he saw that the well-known “wharf-rat” was to be his competitor.

    The Hoosier School-boy |Edward Eggleston
  • It was strong enough of nicotine to drive a wharf-rat to suicide.

    The Flying Bo'sun |Arthur Mason
  • But you see, there aint a wharf-rat left in Windover as ud trust me now!

    A Singular Life |Elizabeth Stuart Phelps

British Dictionary definitions for wharf rat

wharf rat

noun

any rat, usually a brown rat, that infests wharves
informal a person who haunts wharves, usually for dishonest purposes