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Definition of cotton rat

cotton rat

Plural:cotton rats
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cotton rat Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American Any of various New World rodents of the genus Sigmodon, native to the Americas, characterized by a stout body, coarse fur, and a known tendency to inhabit fields and damage agricultural crops.

Example

"Researchers often study the hispid cotton rat because it serves as an important host species for certain strains of hantavirus in the southeastern United States."

• Nearby Words

cottage
cottage cheese
cotton
cotton rat
cottonmouth
cottontail
cottontail rabbit

Word Origin & Etymology

So named because of their historical association with damaging cotton crops and their superficial physical resemblance to true Old World rats, though they belong to a distinct New World rodent family (Cricetidae).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cotton rat. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cotton rat
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