The difference between Rat and Stool pigeon
When used as nouns, rat means a medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus rattus, whereas stool pigeon means a decoy or an informer, especially one who is a spy for the police.
Rat is also verb with the meaning: to betray someone and tell their secret to an authority or an enemy.
check bellow for the other definitions of Rat and Stool pigeon
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Rat as a noun (zoology):
A medium-sized rodent belonging to the genus Rattus.
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Rat as a noun (informal):
A term indiscriminately applied to numerous members of several rodent families (e.g. voles and mice) having bodies longer than about 12 cm, or 5 inches.
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Rat as a noun (informal):
A person who is known for betrayal; a scoundrel; a quisling.
Examples:
"What a rat, leaving us stranded here!"
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Rat as a noun (informal):
An informant or snitch.
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Rat as a noun (informal):
A scab: a worker who acts against trade union policies.
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Rat as a noun (slang):
A person who routinely spends time at a particular location.
Examples:
"Our teenager has become a mall rat."
"He loved hockey and was a devoted rink rat."
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Rat as a noun (UK, north-west, _, London, slang, vulgar):
Vagina.
Examples:
"Get your rat out."
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Rat as a noun:
A wad of shed hair used as part of a hairstyle.
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Rat as a verb (usually with “on” or “out”):
To betray someone and tell their secret to an authority or an enemy; to turn someone in, bewray.
Examples:
"He ratted on his coworker."
"He is going to rat us out!"
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Rat as a verb (of a dog, etc.):
To kill rats.
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Rat as a noun (regional):
A scratch or a score.
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Rat as a noun (nautical, regional):
A place in the sea with rapid currents and crags where a ship is likely to be torn apart in stormy weather.
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Rat as a verb (regional):
To scratch or score.
Examples:
"He ratted a vertical line on his face with a pocket knife."
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Rat as a verb (regional, rare, obsolete):
To tear, rip, rend.
Examples:
"'Ratted to shreds."
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Stool pigeon as a noun (slang):
A decoy or an informer, especially one who is a spy for the police.
Examples:
"synonyms: stoolie stooly Thesaurus:informant"