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

vole

²

/ vəʊl /

noun

1. See water vole
   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

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

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

Origin of vole²

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

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

Sons grew up to become less likely to form bonds with mates, making another generation of single-parent vole families more likely.

From The Daily Beast

With most diseases spread by rodents, the mouse or rat or vole is only an intermediary (a “host”) for fleas and lice and the like.

From The Daily Beast

The vole found quite a shoal of fish collected near the reeds; and for a few moments he frolicked about the edge of the shallow.

From Project Gutenberg

More than half-way across the pool a large boulder stood out of the water, but the vole was heading towards the bank above.

From Project Gutenberg

Close beside the river's brink, as the shadows darkened, he found the fresh scent of a female vole.

From Project Gutenberg

By the middle of May, when another vole family of six had arrived, the number of vermin in the valley had perceptibly diminished.

From Project Gutenberg

It was mingled with the faint odour of a field-vole that, doubtless, had been pursued and carried away by its persistent enemy.

From Project Gutenberg