cotton rat

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English

• n. a long-haired rat (Sigmodon hispidus), native of the Southern United States and Mexico. It makes its nest of cotton and is often injurious to the crop.

from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

• n. A common indigenous rodent quadruped, Sigmodon hispidus, of the family Muridæ and subfamily Murinæ, found in the cotton-fields and other lowlands of the southern United States. It superficially resembles the common Norway rat, but is only about two thirds as large. See Sigmodon.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• n. destructive long-haired burrowing rat of southern North America and Central America