Definition

1. Noun:
   • A brown rat that infests wharves: A type of rodent, specifically the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), commonly found living in and around docks and piers.
   • A person who lives near wharves and lives by pilfering from ships or warehouses: A derogatory term for someone residing in dockland areas who steals goods from vessels or storage facilities.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Animal):
  • The old pier was overrun with wharf rats.
  • They set traps to control the population of wharf rats.
• Noun (Person):
  • The police warned merchants about the wharf rats stealing cargo at night.
  • He was known in the port as a wharf rat, always looking for an unattended crate.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically to describe a person perceived as untrustworthy or who scavenges in a particular environment.
  • In the competitive business district, he was considered a wharf rat, always trying to snatch clients from others.

Variants and Related Words

• Dock rat: A near-synonym, though less common, for both the rodent and the person.
• Pier rat: Another similar, informal term.

Synonyms

• For the animal: Brown rat, sewer rat, Norway rat.
• For the person: Thief, pilferer, scavenger, dock thief.

Notes on Meaning

• The meaning is highly context-dependent. The surrounding words in a sentence usually make it clear whether the reference is to the animal or the person.
• When applied to a person, the term is pejorative and suggests a low social status and criminal behavior associated with port areas.

Noun

1. brown rat that infests wharves
2. someone who lives near wharves and lives by pilfering from ships or warehouses