Why is a rat called a traitor? - briefly
The label arises from the rodent’s habit of abandoning its group and revealing hidden dangers, a behavior traditionally likened to treachery. The expression spread through folklore and military slang, cementing the negative connotation.
Why is a rat called a traitor? - in detail
The association of the rodent with betrayal stems from several historical and linguistic developments.
During medieval Europe, the word for the animal entered the vernacular with a negative moral charge. In Old French, « rat » was linked to the verb « rater » (to miss, to fail), which later acquired the sense of “to betray.” This semantic shift was reinforced by the animal’s behavior: rats frequently flee a sinking ship, leaving passengers behind, a scene repeatedly described in literature and folklore. The image of a creature abandoning its companions became a convenient metaphor for treachery.
In military slang of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the term was applied to informants who disclosed secret information to the enemy. Soldiers used the expression to label colleagues who “snitched,” drawing on the pre‑existing connotation of the animal as a dishonest survivor.
Literary works cemented the metaphor. William Shakespeare, for example, employed the phrase « rat » to describe a false friend in a play, while later authors such as Charles Dickens used it to criticize corrupt officials. These references spread the figurative meaning across the English‑speaking world.
Cultural attitudes toward sanitation also contributed. Rats thrive in filthy environments, symbolizing decay and impurity. Societies that prized cleanliness and order viewed the presence of the rodent as a sign of moral corruption, further aligning the animal with deceitful conduct.
Summarized factors:
- Medieval linguistic link between the animal’s name and the verb meaning “to fail” or “to betray.”
- Observed behavior of abandoning ship, interpreted as desertion.
- Adoption by military slang for informants and traitors.
- Reinforcement through literary examples that equated the creature with falsehood.
- Association with filth, reinforcing a moral judgment of impurity and dishonesty.
These interrelated influences explain why the rodent acquired the reputation of a betrayer.