Ra·tel n.  Zool. Any carnivore of the genus Mellivora, allied to the weasels and the skunks; -- called also honey badger.
 Note: ☞ Several species are known in Africa and India. The Cape ratel (Mellivora Capensis) and the Indian ratel (Mellivora Indica) are the best known.   The back is gray; the lower parts, face, and tail are black.  They are fond of honey, and rob the nests of wild bees.

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 Hon·ey n.
 1. A sweet viscid fluid, esp. that collected by bees from flowers of plants, and deposited in the cells of the honeycomb.
 2. That which is sweet or pleasant, like honey.
    The honey of his language.   --Shak.
 3. Sweet one; -- a term of endearment.
    Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus.   --Shak.
 Note: ☞ Honey is often used adjectively or as the first part of compound; as, honeydew or honey dew; honey guide or honeyguide; honey locust or honey-locust.
 Honey ant Zool., a small ant (Myrmecocystus melliger), found in the Southwestern United States, and in Mexico, living in subterranean formicares. There are larger and smaller ordinary workers, and others, which serve as receptacles or cells for the storage of honey, their abdomens becoming distended to the size of a currant. These, in times of scarcity, regurgitate the honey and feed the rest.
 Honey badger Zool., the ratel.
 Honey bear. Zool. See Kinkajou.
 Honey buzzard Zool., a bird related to the kites, of the genus Pernis.  The European species is Pernis apivorus; the Indian or crested honey buzzard is Pernis ptilorhyncha.  They feed upon honey and the larvæ of bees.  Called also bee hawk, bee kite.
 Honey guide Zool., one of several species of small birds of the family Indicatoridæ, inhabiting Africa and the East Indies. They have the habit of leading persons to the nests to wild bees. Called also honeybird, and indicator.
 Honey harvest, the gathering of honey from hives, or the honey which is gathered. --Dryden.
 Honey kite. Zool. See Honey buzzard (above).
 Honey locust Bot., a North American tree (Gleditschia triacanthos), armed with thorns, and having long pods with a sweet pulp between the seeds.
 Honey month. Same as Honeymoon.
 Honey weasel Zool., the ratel.


 honey badger
      n : nocturnal badger-like carnivore of wooded regions of Africa
          and southern Asia [syn: ratel, Mellivora capensis]