The Clue
Ship deserters (4 letter answer)
The Answer
RATS
Tags
Notes
The answer RATS is seen frequently, appearing about once every 80 puzzles.
Related Clues
Betrayers
"Curses!"
"Darn!"
"Fiddlesticks!"
"Fudge!"
"Phooey!"
Phooey!
Rodents
Stoolies
Vermin
Comics expletive
"Confound it!"
Cry of disgust
Cry of frustration
Darn it!
Exclamation of annoyance
Expression of disgust
Gerbils' kin
Hamelin's bane
Mild expletive
Nuts; phooey
"Oh, heck!"
Piper's followers
Plague carriers
Refuse visitors
Turns informer
Words of disgust
Charlie Brown exclamation
Charlie Brown expletive
Charlie Brown's "Darn!"
Charlie Brown's expletive
"Dang it all!"
"Darn it all!"
Deserters of sinking ships
Exclamation in a Schulz comic
"Gosh darn it!"
Word from Charlie Brown
"I hate it when that happens!"
Definition
RAT as a noun:
1. any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
2. (scab, strikebreaker, blackleg, rat) = someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike
3. (rotter, dirty dog, rat, skunk, stinker, stinkpot, bum, puke, crumb, lowlife, scum bag, so-and-so, git) = a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible; "only a rotter would do that"; "kill the rat"; "throw the bum out"; "you cowardly little pukes!"; "the British call a contemptible person a `git'"
4. (informer, betrayer, rat, squealer, blabber) = one who reveals confidential information in return for money
5. a pad (usually made of hair) worn as part of a woman's coiffure
RAT as a verb:
1. desert one's party or group of friends, for example, for one's personal advantage
2. employ scabs or strike breakers in
3. (fink, scab, rat, blackleg) = take the place of work of someone on strike
4. give (hair) the appearance of being fuller by using a rat
5. catch rats, especially with dogs
6. (denounce, tell on, betray, give away, rat, grass, shit, shop, snitch, stag) = give away information about somebody; "He told on his classmate who had cheated on the exam"