vole

views updated May 17 2018

vole / vōl/ • n. a small, typically burrowing, mouselike rodent (Microtus and other genera, subfamily Microtinae) with a rounded muzzle, found in both Eurasia and North America.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

vole

views updated Jun 08 2018

vole Short-tailed, small-eared, prolific rodent that lives in the Northern Hemisphere. Most voles are greyish-brown, herbivorous ground-dwellers and are small. The semi-aquatic water vole is the largest. Length: to 18cm (7in). Family Cricetidae.

World Encyclopedia

vole

views updated May 09 2018

vole2 mouse-like animal (short-tailed field mouse, water-rat, etc.). XIX. orig. vole-mouse — Norw. *vollmus (cf. Icel. vollarmús), f. voll field (ON. vǫllr) + mus MOUSE.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

vole

views updated May 21 2018

vole See CRICETIDAE.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY

vole

views updated May 29 2018

vole1 winning of all the tricks in certain card games. XVII. — F., f. voler :- L. volāre fly.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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