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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


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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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of ratel1

C18: from Afrikaans

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Example Sentences

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

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

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

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

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

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tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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