'rat

'rat (plural 'rats)

1. (chiefly informal) Short for muskrat.
   • 1949, Ted O'Neil, The Muskrat in the Louisiana Coastal Marshes: A Study of the Ecological, Geological, Biological, Tidal and Climatic Factors Governing the Production and Management of the Muskrat Industry in Louisiana, page 93 to 94:

     The 1946-47 catch of 68,656 is approximately 23 'rats per acre over the 3,000 acres of producing marches. The additional sea-rims and ridges were not trapped. To trap this number of 'rats per acre the marshes must carry at least 30 to 35 animals per acre […] . If ignited by lightning or other agencies during dry spells these will suffer damage to 'rat populations.

   • 1997, Shawn Thompson, Soul of the River: Life in the Thousand Islands, GeneralStore PublishingHouse, →ISBN, page 44:

     He useta trap otter, mink, mushkrats, and bear, wolves. You just love it. He taught us how to skin 'rats and stuff like that. I was 'bout ten.

   • 2017, Kenny Salwey, J. Scott Bestul, Last River Rat: Kenny Salwey's Life in the Wild, Fulcrum Publishing, →ISBN:

     Part of that muskrat courage is a defense mechanism that comes from being picked on, as muskrats are fodder for virtually every predator going: fox, eagle, hawk, mink—even a snapping turtle will take a young muskrat on occasion, tugging it underwater and drowning it as the female 'rat swims on, unsuspecting. […] Kenny finds a 'rat in each of the next three sets, […]

• Tar, TRA, ART, ATR, art, TAR, RTA, rta, Art, tra, tar, 'art, art.