Meaning of river rat | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A rat that lives on or along a river.
   literally
2. A lower-class person living on or along a river.
   derogatory
3. A poker player that wins a Texas Hold'em hand by making the winning hand on the river card.
   derogatory

Examples

“2000, Elvira Woodruff, The Christmas Doll http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN0590318799&id=lHd3LzrLmDcC&pg=PA49&lpg=PA49&sig=Db_PVv86h_T9YfO5JyIsw6XRaTM To her horror, she discovered that the rope she was holding was not a rope at all, but a tail. And attached to the tail was a large river rat that scrambled frantically in midair, thrashing to get⟳ away.”

“1989, Orson Scott Card, Prentice Alvin http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN0812502124&id=u8x5Q2IHw_8C&pg=PA179&lpg=PA179&sig=frn2Tg8bgUQjDpkNJJxvJOcUm9c The river rat he fought was one of a gang of them lolling under the eaves of the porthouse, probably waiting for a gaming house to open⟳.”

“1993, Peter Filichia, Let’s Put⟳ on a Musical! http://books.google.com/books?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&vid=ISBN0823088170&id=-d20I7gBCs8C&pg=PA23&lpg=PA23&sig=UvFcIJYiS-CwLdeKLlKGo7fT2Ck Cap’n Andy claims that his show⟳ boat is “one big happy family”—and that includes his wife, daughter Magnolia, as well as stars Julie and husband Steve, and black help⟳ Queenie and Joe. But it won’t be for long; because a river rat’s love⟳ for Julie goes unrequited, and he informs the sheriff that she’s a “half-breed” with Negro blood.”

“1994, Betty Bryant, Here Comes the Showboat! http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN081311862X&id=RD-qvwUlYH0C&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&sig=maP0RIjIHNnAVNzJOYGW01vfudw While other children were learning how to walk⟳, I was learning how to swim⟳, and I knew how to set⟳ a trotline, gig a frog, catch⟳ a crawfish, and strip⟳ the mud vein out of a carp by the time I was four. Dad called me a river rat.”

CEFR level