mole rat

or mole-rat, mole·rat

[ mohl-rat ]

noun

1. any of several eastern European burrowing rodents, especially those of the genus Spalax, having no tail, short limbs, and small eyes with permanently closed lids.
2. bandicoot ( def 2 ).

mole rat

noun

1. any burrowing molelike African rodent of the family Bathyergidae
2. any similar rodent, esp any member of the genus Spalax, of Asia and North Africa: family Spalacidae
3. the bandicoot rat See bandicoot

Word History and Origins

Origin of mole rat¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

The naked mole rat is the animal equivalent of the nightmarish Pale Man from Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, but this little guy is much less menacing.

From Popular-Science

Eusocial has been used to describe certain societies of insects and crustaceans, along with two species of mole rats.

From Science News For Students

The Mole-rat needs not to dig such deep tunnels as the true Moles, because its food does not lie so deep.

From Project Gutenberg

But the Mole-rat lives mostly upon roots, preferring those of a bulbous nature.

From Project Gutenberg

A better term for it is the Mole-rat, by which name it is familiar to zoologists.

From Project Gutenberg