"which produced an amphibious derivative known as the SIBMAS. The Ratel was produced in three distinct marks between 1976 and 1987, when production ceased. All three marks were modified for a number of diverse battlefield roles. Specialised variants of the Ratel carried mortars, anti-tank guided missiles, or a turret-mounted 90mm rifled gun. During the 1950s, the South African Defence Force (SADF) had been primarily organised to operate alongside the British Armed Forces in the event of a military crisis affecting the British Empire's African or Middle Eastern dependencies. This reflected South Africa's longstanding defence ties to the United Kingdom and"
"Brown rat The brown rat (""Rattus norvegicus""), also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Norwegian rat, Parisian rat, water rat or wharf rat, is one of the best known and most common rats. One of the largest muroids, it is a brown or grey rodent with a head and body length of up to long, and a slightly shorter tail. It weighs between . Thought to have originated in northern China, this rodent has now spread to all continents except Antarctica, and is the dominant rat in Europe and much of North America,"
"Rat Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. All species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus ""Rattus"". Other rat genera include ""Neotoma"" (pack rats), ""Bandicota"" (bandicoot rats) and ""Dipodomys"" (kangaroo rats). Rats are typically distinguished from mice by their size. Generally, when someone discovers a large muroid rodent, its common name includes the term ""rat"", while if it is smaller, its name includes the term ""mouse"". The common terms ""rat"" and ""mouse"" are not taxonomically specific, so ""rat"" is not a scientific term, otherwise all rats would belong to the genus"
"to true rats, but are not members of the genus ""Rattus"". Male rats are called bucks, unmated females are called does, pregnant or parent females are called dams, and infants are called kittens or pups. A group of rats is referred to as a mischief. The common species are opportunistic survivors and often live with and near humans; therefore, they are known as commensals. They may cause substantial food losses, especially in developing countries. However, the widely distributed and problematic commensal species of rats are a minority in this diverse genus. Many species of rats are island endemics and some"
"Rattan Rattan (from the Malay ""rotan"") is the name for roughly 600 species of old world climbing palms belonging to subfamily Calamoideae (from the Greek 'kálamos' = reed). Rattan is also known as ""manila"", or ""malacca"", named after the ports of shipment Manila and Malacca City, and as ""manau"" (from the Malay ""rotan manau"", the trade name for ""Calamus manan"" canes in Southeast Asia). The climbing habit is associated with the characteristics of its flexible woody stem, derived typically from a secondary growth, makes rattan a liana rather than a true wood. Calamoideae also includes tree palms such as Raphia"
"word रोटिका (""rotikā""), meaning ""bread"". Names in other languages are ; ; Nepali : रोटी; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Dhivehi: ރޮށި; ; . It is also known as ""maani"" in Sindhi, ""ruti"" in Bengali and ""phulka"" in Punjabi and Saraiki. Many variations of flatbreads are found in many cultures across the globe, from the Indian subcontinent to Africa to Oceania to the Malay Peninsula to the Americas. The traditional flatbread from the Indian subcontinent is known as roti. It is normally eaten with cooked vegetables or curries; it can be called a carrier for"
"following the introduction of terrestrial predators such as cats, rats, and pigs. Many reedbed species are secretive (apart from loud calls), crepuscular, and have laterally flattened bodies. In the Old World, long-billed species tend to be called rails and short-billed species crakes. North American species are normally called rails irrespective of bill length. The smallest of these is Swinhoe's rail, at and 25 g. The larger species are also sometimes given other names. The black coots are more adapted to open water than their relatives, and some other large species are called gallinules and swamphens. The largest of this group"
"Ratu Ratu (""raatuu"") is an Austronesian title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi (pronounced ), is used by females of chiefly rank. In the Malay language, the title Ratu is also the traditional honorific title to refer to the ruler - king or queen - in Javanese culture (though it has since been used in modern contexts to refer to queen regnants of any nation, e.g ""Ratu Elizabeth II""). Thus in Java, a royal palace is called ""keraton"", constructed from the circumfix ""ke- -an"" and ""Ratu"", to describe the residence of the Ratu. ""Ra"" is a"
"Black rat The black rat (""Rattus rattus""), also known as the ship rat, roof rat or house rat, is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus ""Rattus"" (rats) in the subfamily Murinae. Black rats are generalist omnivores. They are serious pests to farmers as they eat a wide range of agricultural crops. The black rat is one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, ""Systema Naturae"". It was originally described as ""Mus rattus"". Three subspecies were once recognized, but today are considered invalid. They were: A typical adult black rat is long, not including"
"Rattle (percussion instrument) A rattle is a type of percussion instrument which produces a sound when shaken. Rattles are described in the Hornbostel–Sachs system as ""Shaken Idiophones or Rattles (112.1)"". Rattles include: Though there are many different sorts of rattles, some music scores indicate simply a rattle (or the corresponding terms French ""claquette"", ""hochet""; Ger. ""Rassel"", ""Schnarre""; It. ""nacchere""). In Ancient Egypt, rattles were used during funerary rituals to signify regeneration in the after-life. Rattles were viewed as sacred and became the forerunners of the sistrum. The earliest Egyptian rattles were ovular and made of pottery. During the Predynastic and"
"known for being tough and fearless. Rugby player Nick Cummins and American football player Tyrann Mathieu are notable athletes who have received the nickname honey badger at some point in their careers. Honey badger The honey badger (""Mellivora capensis""), also known as the ratel ( or ), is widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia, and in the Indian subcontinent. Because of its wide range and occurrence in a variety of habitats, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is the only species in the mustelid subfamily Mellivorinae and its only genus Mellivora. Despite its name,"
"Ratter (dog) A ratter is a type of dog that has been developed for catching rats and other vermin. A typical ratter is small to medium-sized and has a short and smooth coat. Their ears are often erect, although some breeds can have semi-erect and folded ears. The definition for a ratter varies a little - sometimes it only includes the breeds that have the word ""ratter"" in their name, sometimes also pinschers and several terriers originally used for rat hunting. The term rat terrier refers to the American Rat Terrier and its descendants, as well as other terrier breeds"
"named from its harsh cry, in Vulgar Latin *""rascula"", from Latin ""rādere"" ('to scrape'). The rails are a family of small to medium-sized, ground-living birds. They vary in length from and in weight from . Some species have long necks and in many cases are laterally compressed. The bill is the most variable feature within the family. In some species, it is longer than the head (like the clapper rail of the Americas); in others, it may be short and wide (as in the coots), or massive (as in the purple gallinules). A few coots and gallinules have a frontal"
"apparently also relatively modern taboo against uttering the word 'rabbit' on the Isle of Portland. Longtail (rat) On the Isle of Man, longtail is a euphemism used to denote a rat, as a relatively modern superstition has arisen that it is considered bad luck to mention this word. The origins of this superstition date to sea-taboos, where certain words and practices were not mentioned aboard ship, for fear of attracting bad luck (or bad weather). The Manx Gaelic author Edward Faragher (also known by his Manx nickname 'Ned Beg Hom Ruy') recorded in his work 'Skeealyn 'sy Ghailck' that during"
"populations on the islands. Black rat The black rat (""Rattus rattus""), also known as the ship rat, roof rat or house rat, is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus ""Rattus"" (rats) in the subfamily Murinae. Black rats are generalist omnivores. They are serious pests to farmers as they eat a wide range of agricultural crops. The black rat is one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, ""Systema Naturae"". It was originally described as ""Mus rattus"". Three subspecies were once recognized, but today are considered invalid. They were: A typical adult black rat"
"Fat-tailed gerbil The fat-tailed gerbil (""Pachyuromys duprasi"") is a rodent belonging to subfamily Gerbillinae. It is the only member of the genus ""Pachyuromys"". These rodents are the most docile species of the Gerbil subfamily. It is also called the duprasi gerbil. Other common English names: fat-tailed jird, fat-tailed rat, beer mat gerbil. Names in other languages: (أبو ليه) in Egyptian Arabic, and (عضل أليان) in Standard Arabic, ' (French), ' (German), ' (Danish), ' (Finnish), """" (Dutch). They have a fluffy and soft fur. Fat-tailed gerbils are very new on the pet market. The fat-tailed gerbil is a medium-sized gerbil."
"are generally known as the ""crimson rosella"", with the alternate names ""Red Lowry"", ""Pennant's parakeet"", ""Campbell parakeet"", ""(blue) mountain parrot"", ""(blue) mountain lowry"" or just plain ""lowry"" occasionally heard. Cayley reported that the first two alternate names were most common in the early part of the twentieth century. On Norfolk Island it is called simply ""red parrot"". The ""yellow rosella"", also known by a variety of alternate common names including ""Murrumbidgee lowry"", ""murray rosella"", ""swamp lowry"" and ""yellow-rumped parakeet"", was described as ""Platycercus flaveolus"" by John Gould, who gave it the last common name mentioned. It was reduced to subspecies"
"young are born, and remain with the mother for approximately three months (Moore 1995). The common name of this species has long been white-tailed rat or giant white-tailed rat. During the 1990s there was a push for such descriptive English common names to be replaced with indigenous Australian names, and accordingly, in 1995 the Australian Nature Conservation Agency published recommendations for the common names of rodents. They compiled six indigenous names for this species: the Yidiny name ""Durrgim""; the Jaabugay name ""Durrkin""; the Gnog names ""Jikoy"", ""Koojang"" and ""Parrongkai""; and the Kuuku Ya'u name ""Thupi"". Despite this they recommended the"
"hereditary right to use the rattle. Rattle (percussion instrument) A rattle is a type of percussion instrument which produces a sound when shaken. Rattles are described in the Hornbostel–Sachs system as ""Shaken Idiophones or Rattles (112.1)"". Rattles include: Though there are many different sorts of rattles, some music scores indicate simply a rattle (or the corresponding terms French ""claquette"", ""hochet""; Ger. ""Rassel"", ""Schnarre""; It. ""nacchere""). In Ancient Egypt, rattles were used during funerary rituals to signify regeneration in the after-life. Rattles were viewed as sacred and became the forerunners of the sistrum. The earliest Egyptian rattles were ovular and made"
"Longtail (rat) On the Isle of Man, longtail is a euphemism used to denote a rat, as a relatively modern superstition has arisen that it is considered bad luck to mention this word. The origins of this superstition date to sea-taboos, where certain words and practices were not mentioned aboard ship, for fear of attracting bad luck (or bad weather). The Manx Gaelic author Edward Faragher (also known by his Manx nickname 'Ned Beg Hom Ruy') recorded in his work 'Skeealyn 'sy Ghailck' that during his time working on fishing boats in the 19th century ""It was forbidden to name"
"term ""ratite"" is from the Latin word for raft, ""ratis"", because they possess a flat breastbone, or sternum, shaped like a raft. This characteristic sternum differs from that in flighted birds, where the pectoral musculature is disproportionately large to provide the power for wingbeats and the sternum develops a prominent keel, or carina sterni to anchor these muscles. The clavicles do not fuse into a furcula. Instead, if present at all, each is splint-like and lies along the medial border of the coracoid, attached there by a coraco–clavicular ligament. There is an obtuse angle between the scapula and coracoid, and"
"sticks"" to wick and disperse the scent of essential oils in aroma diffusers. (See Rattan#Food source and medicinal potential.) Reed (plant) Reed is a common name for several tall, grass-like plants of wetlands. They are all members of the order Poales (in the modern, expanded circumscription), and include: Many cultures have used reeds in construction of buildings of various types. ""Phragmites australis"", the common reed, is used in many areas for thatching roofs. In the United Kingdom, common reed used for this purpose is known as ""Norfolk reed"" or ""water reed"". However, ""wheat reed"" and ""Devon reed"" are not in"
"Roti jala Roti Jala (also known as Roti Kirai or Roti Renjis, or ""lace pancake"" in English), literally meaning ""Net Bread"", is a popular Malay tea time snack served with curry dishes which can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The ""roti jala"" is a pretty dish that looks like a lace doily due to the way it is made. This is a very traditional Malay dish that is usually homemade and served at events such as weddings and festivals. It is usually eaten in sets of three to four pieces with curries, especially chicken curry, as a substitute"
"Rail (bird) The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small- to medium-sized, ground-living birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules. Many species are associated with wetlands, although the family is found in every terrestrial habitat except dry deserts, polar regions, and alpine areas above the snow line. Members of the Rallidae occur on every continent except Antarctica. Numerous island species are known. The most common rail habitats are marshland and dense forest. They are especially fond of dense vegetation. ""Rail"" is derived from French ""râle"", from Old French ""rasle"". It is"
"the white-tailed rat (""Mystromys albicaudatus""). Hamster Hamsters are rodents (order Rodentia) belonging to the subfamily Cricetinae, which contains 18 species classified in seven genera. They have become established as popular small house pets. The best-known species of hamster is the golden or Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), which is the type most commonly kept as pets. Other hamster species commonly kept as pets are the three species of dwarf hamster, Campbell's dwarf hamster (Phodopus campbelli), the winter white dwarf hamster (Phodopus sungorus) and the Roborovski hamster (Phodopus roborovskii). Hamsters are more crepuscular than nocturnal and, in the wild, remain underground during"
"rat. However this recommendation was not prescriptive, and it remains to be seen to what extent it will be adopted. Masked white-tailed rat The masked white-tailed rat (""Uromys hadrourus"") is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Australia, in north-east Queensland. Descriptive English common names for this species include Masked White-tailed Rat and Thornton Peak Uromys. During the 1990s there was a push for such names to be replaced with indigenous Australian names, and accordingly, in 1995 the Australian Nature Conservation Agency published recommendations for the common names of rodents. They failed to identify"
"rats. However, he finally allowed Ratbert to become a permanent member of the household. Ratbert chose his name through a discussion with Dogbert. Dogbert suggested names such as 'Rodney the Rodent' and 'Vernon the Vermin'. XP-39C² suggested the name 'Bill the Rat' before finally settling on 'Ratbert'. As a simple rat, and having been specially bred to be susceptible to peer pressure, Ratbert is very gullible and innocent, although optimistic. Sometimes his actions can become quite annoying, such as doing ""rat dances"". Like Dogbert, he has made inroads into business, once working as an intern, a concierge, a consultant (with"
"Ragdoll The Ragdoll is a cat breed with blue eyes and mostly gray and white patterns. It is a large and muscular semi-longhair cat with a soft and silky coat. Developed by American breeder Ann Baker in the 1960s, it is best known for its docile and placid temperament and affectionate nature. The name ""Ragdoll"" is derived from the tendency of individuals from the original breeding stock to go limp and relaxed when picked up. Particularly popular in both the United Kingdom and the breed's native United States, ragdoll cats often are known as ""dog-like cats"" or ""puppy-like cats"" due"
"necessary, which may be after every match for a professional. Despite the name, ""catgut"" has never been made from any part of a cat. ""Racket"" is the standard spelling of the word. ""Racquet"" is an alternative spelling used more commonly in certain sports (squash, racquetball, badminton, tennis) and less commonly in others. While some writers, especially those outside North America, prefer the French-influenced ""racquet"", ""racket"" is the predominant spelling by a large margin. Similarly, while some believe that ""racket"" came about as a misspelling of ""racquet"", ""racket"" is in fact the older spelling: it has been in use since the"
"Roti Roti (also known as chapati) is a round flatbread native to the Indian subcontinent made from stoneground wholemeal flour, traditionally known as atta, and water that is combined into a dough. Roti is consumed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Maldives, Malaysia and Bangladesh. It is also consumed in parts of Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean, particularly in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St Lucia, Guyana and Suriname. Its defining characteristic is that it is unleavened. South Asian ""naan"" bread, by contrast, is a yeast-leavened bread, as is ""kulcha"". The word ""roti"" is derived from the Sanskrit"
"Rattail (haircut) A rattail is a hair style that is characterized by a long ""tail""-like element of hair growing downward from the back of the head. The rattail usually hangs naturally; however, it can be braided, treated as a dread, permed, straightened, or poofed, curled with an iron. In some instances, an individual might choose to grow several tails as opposed to a single very long tail. The rattail saw a brief period of mainstream popularity during the late 1980s and early 1990s and has rapidly fallen out of vogue. However, it has recently seen renewed popularity. Some punks and"
"Ratchet (device) A ratchet is a mechanical device that allows continuous linear or rotary motion in only one direction while preventing motion in the opposite direction. Ratchets are widely used in machinery and tools. The word ""ratchet"" is also used informally to refer to a ratcheting socket wrench. A rachet consists of a round gear or a linear rack with teeth, and a pivoting, spring-loaded finger called a ""pawl"" (or ""click"", in clocks and watches) that engages the teeth. The teeth are uniform but asymmetrical, with each tooth having a moderate slope on one edge and a much steeper slope"
"adoption of the name Mati, which is a general name for rats and mice recorded from the vicinity of the Peach River on Cape York. However this recommendation was not prescriptive, and it remains to be seen to what extent it will be adopted. Giant white-tailed rat The giant white-tailed rat (""Uromys caudimaculatus"") is an Australian rodent native to tropical rainforest of north Queensland, with subspecies occurring in New Guinea and the Aru Islands. It is one of the largest rodents in Australia, reaching up to 1 kg in weight, is grey-brown above, cream to white below, and has a"