Rata, used in a figurative sense, signifies a coarse, unmeaning article, or literary production.
Vous avez lu la lettre si digne de ——? Xau, poli, comme un marbre, a dû faire un signe d’assentiment, mais il est trop occupé pour absorber ce rata soi-disant naturaliste.—Gil Blas, 1887.
Rataconniculer (obsolete), to cobble. Referred also to the carnal act.
Ratafia de grenouille, m. (popular), water. Called, in the English slang, “Adam’s ale,” and the old term “fish broth,” as appears from the following:—
The churlish frampold waves gave him his belly-full of fish-broath.—Nashe, Lenten Stuff.
Ratapiaule, f. (popular), thrashing, “walloping.”
Ratapoil, m. (familiar), epithet applied to old soldiers of the First Empire, and generally to Bonapartists. Literally rat à poil.
Ratatouille, f. (familiar and popular), flanquer une ——, to thrash. See [Voie].
Rateau, m. (popular), police officer. (Military) Faire son ——, to remain some time with the corps, as a punishment, at the expiration of the twenty-eight days’ yearly service as a réserviste.
Ratiboisé, adj. (general), done for; ruined, “gone to smash.”