vole

¹

[ vohl ]

noun

1. any of several small mouselike or ratlike rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera, having short limbs and a short tail.

vole

²

[ vohl ]

noun

1. Cards. the winning by one player of all the tricks of a deal.

vole

¹

/ vəʊl /

noun

1. any of numerous small rodents of the genus Microtus and related genera, mostly of Eurasia and North America and having a stocky body, short tail, and inconspicuous ears: family Cricetidae See also water vole

vole

²

/ vəʊl /

noun

1. (in some card games, such as écarté) the taking of all the tricks in a deal, thus scoring extra points

Word History and Origins

Origin of vole¹

1795–1805; short for volemouse field mouse, perhaps < Norwegian *vollmus, equivalent to voll field ( wold ¹ ) + mus mouse

Origin of vole²

1670–80; < French, derivative of voler to fly < Latin volāre

Word History and Origins

Origin of vole¹

C19: short for volemouse, from Old Norse vollr field + mus mouse ; related to Icelandic vollarmus

Origin of vole²

C17: from French, from voler to fly, from Latin volāre

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go the vole,
   1. to venture everything on the chance of great rewards.
   2. to try one after another, as a variety of occupations:

      He went the vole and finally settled on watchmaking.

Example Sentences

Water voles - a species that has declined by 90% in the past 30 years - have made their home in a park in York, it has been confirmed.

From BBC

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses naturally found mainly in rodents such as mice, rats and voles.

From Science Daily

Professor Young’s experiments with prairie voles revealed what poets never could: how the brain processes that fluttering feeling in the heart.

From New York Times

Prairie voles are stocky rodents and Olympian tunnellers that surface in grassy areas to feast on grass, roots and seeds with their chisel-shaped teeth, sprouting migraines in farmers and gardeners.

From New York Times

The researchers collected incisors from rodents that live in different environments: beavers, coypus, squirrels, marmots, rats, voles and mice.

From Science Daily