Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Vole \Vole\, n. (Zo["o]l.)
Any one of numerous species of micelike rodents belonging to
{Arvicola} and allied genera of the subfamily
{Arvicolin[ae]}. They have a thick head, short ears, and a
short hairy tail.
Note: The water vole, or water rat, of Europe ({Arvicola
amphibius}) is a common large aquatic species. The
short-tailed field vole ({A. agrestis}) of Northern and
Central Europe, and Asia, the Southern field vole ({A.
arvalis}), and the Siberian root vole ({A.
[oe]conomus}), are important European species. The
common species of the Eastern United States ({A.
riparius}) (called also {meadow mouse}) and the prairie
mouse ({A. austerus}) are abundant, and often injurious
to vegetation. Other species are found in Canada.