water mouse

noun

Any of several species of rodents of the genus Hydromys, native to New Guinea and Australia, with strong hind legs and partially webbed toes.

Similar
water rat
OriginMiddle English water mous →
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Meanings

nounwater mouse (plural water mice)

plural water mice · alternative water-mouse · alternative watermouse

  1. biologyAny of several species of rodents of the genus Hydromys, native to New Guinea and Australia, with strong hind legs and partially webbed toes.

    Synonyms: water rat

  2. Xeromys myoides

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of several species of rodents of the genus Hydromys, native to New Guinea and Australia, with strong hind legs and partially webbed toes.

Similar
water rat

Origin

  1. Middle Englishwater mous
  2. Englishwater mouse

From Middle English water mous, watermowse, equivalent to water + mouse.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish vesirotta, valevesirotta
  • vesirottarodent of the genus Hydromys
  • valevesirottaXeromys myoides
Cite this entry
APA

water mouse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water%20mouse

MLA

“water mouse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water%20mouse. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “water mouse,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/water%20mouse.

Source: water mouse on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.