mata-rates

Catalan

Etymology

Verb-object compound, composed of mata (“to kill”) +‎ rates (“rats”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [ˌma.təˈra.təs]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [ˌma.taˈra.tes]

Noun

mata-rates m (invariable)

1. raticide

   Synonym: raticida

2. (colloquial) rotgut (strong low-quality alcohol)

Further reading

• “mata-rates” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
• “mata-rates” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.