Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The ratel, Mellivora ratellus: so called from its fondness for honey.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Mellivora capensis, a badger-like mustelid native to Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

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

  • noun nocturnal badger-like carnivore of wooded regions of Africa and southern Asia

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From honey + badger, referring to its liking for honey.

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Examples

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Comments

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  • cf. honey buzzard

    June 15, 2011

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

    Honey badgers became popular due to a YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg)  with a humorous voiceover. Honey badgers are known for their ferocity. Some fun facts about honey badgers:

    * They are called ratels because of the rattling sound they make when they are being attacked.

    * They have a resistance to snake venom.

    * When attacking beehives, they release a fume that spreads throughout the hive.

    * When attacking large animals, such as lions, they go for the scrotum.

    May 29, 2020

  • Jumped up rat with bad teeth. Would be no match for a bilby.

    June 2, 2020

  • Trying to ratel my cage?

    June 5, 2020

  • Put a mustelid on it already.

    June 12, 2020