desert rat

noun

1

: any of several pale-coated active rodents found in deserts (such as the American kangaroo rat or certain southern African rodents)

2

West : one who has lived much on the desert especially as a prospector

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!