rat line n. a covert path or itinerary used for smuggling, escape, or supply. Etymological Note: This term derives from the tendency of rats to create routes that are out of sight as much as possible, following perimeters and the bases of obstructions. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Ryan, a wildland firefighter from Asheville, North Carolina, asked about bagger, a derogatory term for “a lazy or amateur firefighter.” The term likely comes from military slang, where bagger is short for dirtbagger or S-bagger, most likely deriving...
A magnificent new book celebrates the richness and diversity of 450 years of written and spoken English in what is now the United States. It’s called The People’s Tongue, and it’s a sumptuous collection of essays, letters, poems...