water shrew

2 definitions found

water shrew - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Water shrew \Wa"ter shrew`\ (Zool.)
     Any one of several species of shrews having fringed feet and
     capable of swimming actively. The two common European species
     (Crossopus fodiens, and Crossopus ciliatus) are the best
     known. The most common American water shrew, or marsh shrew
     (Neosorex palustris), is rarely seen, owing to its
     nocturnal habits.
     [1913 Webster]

water shrew - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  water shrew
      n 1: any of several small semiaquatic shrews usually living near
           swift-flowing streams