The story
Derived from the actual pests living in the bilge, the lowest, filthiest part of a ship.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
bilge rat
Today it means: Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bilge, rat. Full definition →
Today it means: Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bilge, rat. Full definition →
Derived from the actual pests living in the bilge, the lowest, filthiest part of a ship.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.