ratel

[ reyt-l, raht-l ]

noun

1. a badgerlike carnivore, Mellivora capensis, of Africa and India.

ratel

/ ˈreɪtəl /

noun

1. Also calledhoney badger a musteline mammal, Mellivora capensis , inhabiting wooded regions of Africa and S Asia. It has a massive body, strong claws, and a thick coat that is paler on the back and it feeds on honey and small animals
2. a six-wheeled armoured vehicle

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratel¹

1770–80; < Afrikaans < Dutch dialect ratel, variant of raat honeycomb; perhaps originally a compound with this word, referring to the animal's fondness for honey

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratel¹

C18: from Afrikaans

Example Sentences

I have already alluded to the Cape ratel doing this on the look-out for bees.

From Project Gutenberg

The Zibu or mbuidé flies at the tendon Achilles; it is most likely the Ratel.

From Project Gutenberg

But the deep boom of new-comers swept the earlier songsters out of the field: “Ik rammel, ik ratel en ik scheur”.

From Project Gutenberg

So it seems quite certain that a ratel never gets stung, no matter how many nests he may rob.

From Project Gutenberg

But if the ratel is odd in appearance, it is odder still in habits.

From Project Gutenberg