Why is it called a rat? - briefly
The term originates from Old English ræt, itself from Proto‑Germanic rattaz and related to Latin rattus, denoting the small, scavenging rodent. The name persisted as the species became widely recognized across Europe.
Why is it called a rat? - in detail
The English word rat traces back to Old English ræt, itself derived from Proto‑Germanic rattaz. This root appears in several Germanic languages: Old High German rat (modern German Ratte), Old Norse rottr, and Gothic rattas. The Proto‑Indo‑European ancestor is reconstructed as *reh₁t‑, meaning “to gnaw” or “to scrape,” reflecting the animal’s characteristic behavior.
The term entered Latin as rattus, from which the Romance languages borrowed it: Italian ratto, French rat, Spanish rata. The Latin form likely arrived through contact with Germanic tribes during the early medieval period, facilitating the spread of the word across Europe.
In English, the spelling shifted from ræt to rat after the Norman Conquest, aligning with Middle English orthographic conventions. The noun acquired additional senses—such as “a despised person” or “a traitor”—through metaphorical extension, but the core meaning remained tied to the rodent species.
Key points of the etymological development:
- Old English ræt → Proto‑Germanic rattaz (gnawing animal)
- Latin rattus (borrowed from Germanic) → Romance equivalents
- Middle English adaptation to rat (standardized spelling)
- Semantic broadening to figurative uses while retaining zoological reference
Thus, the name originates from an ancient root describing gnawing activity, transmitted through Germanic and Latin channels, and solidified in modern English as the standard designation for the species.