Road, n. [AS. rad a riding, that on which one rides or travels, a road, fr. ridan to ride. See Ride, and cf. Raid.]
1. A journey, or stage of a journey. [Obs.]
"With easy roads he came to Leicester." Shak.
2. An inroad; an invasion; a raid. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. A place where one may ride; an open way or public passage for vehicles, persons, and animals; a track for travel, forming a means of communication between one city, town, or place, and another.
"The most villainous house in all the London road." Shak. The word is generally applied to highways, and as a generic term it includes highway, street, and lane.
4. [Possibly akin to Icel. reiði the rigging of a ship, E. ready.] A place where ships may ride at anchor at some distance from the shore; a roadstead; — often in the plural; as Hampton Roads. Shak.
"Now strike your saile, ye jolly mariners,
For we be come unto a quiet rode [road]." Spenser. On, or Upon, the road, traveling or passing over a road; coming or going; on the way.
"My hat and wig will soon be here,
They are upon the road." Cowper. — Road agent, a highwayman, especially on the stage routes of the unsettled western parts of the United States; — a humorous euphemism. [Western U.S.]
"The highway robber — road agent he is quaintly called." The century. — Road book, a guidebook in respect to roads and distances. — Road metal, the broken, stone used in macadamizing roads. — Road roller, a heavy roller, or combinations of rollers, for making earth, macadam, or concrete roads smooth and compact. — often driven by steam. — Road runner (Zoöl.), the chaparral cock. — Road steamer, a locomotive engine adapted to running on common roads. — To go on the road, to engage in the business of a commercial traveler. [Colloq.] — To take the road, to begin or engage in traveling. — To take to the road, to engage in robbery upon the highways.
Syn. — Way; highway; street; lane; pathway; route; passage; course. See Way.
Roadstead
Road´stead, n. [ Road, 4 + stead a place.] An anchorage off shore. Same as Road, 4.
"Moored in the neighboring roadstead." Longfellow.
Roadway
Road´way, n. A road; especially, the part traveled by carriages. Shak.
Roam, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Roamed p. pr. & vb. n. Roaming.] [OE. romen, ramen; cf. AS. arman to raise, rise, D. ramen to hit, plan, aim, OS. rmn to strive after, OHG. ramen. But the word was probably influenced by Rome; cf. OF. romier a pilgrim, originally, a pilgrim going to Rome, It. romeo, Sp. romero. Cf. Ramble.] To go from place to place without any certain purpose or direction; to rove; to wander.
"He roameth to the carpenter’s house." Chaucer.
"Daphne roaming through a thorny wood." Shak.
Syn. — To wander; rove; range; stroll; ramble.
Roam, v. t. To range or wander over.
"And now wild beasts came forth the woods to roam." Milton.
Roam, n. The act of roaming; a wandering; a ramble; as he began his roam o’er hill amd dale. Milton.
Roan, n.
1. The color of a roan horse; a roan color.
2. A roan horse.
3. A kind of leather used for slippers, bookbinding, etc., made from sheepskin, tanned with sumac and colored to imitate ungrained morocco. DeColange. Roan tree. (Bot.) See Rowan tree.
Roar, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Roared p. pr. & vvb. n. Roaring.] [OE. roren, raren, AS. rarian; akin to G. röhten, OHG. rrn. rad.112.]
1. To cry with a full, loud, continued sound. Specifically: (a) To bellow, or utter a deep, loud cry, as a lion or other beast.
"Roaring bulls he would him make to tame." Spenser. (b) To cry loudly, as in pain, distress, or anger.
"Sole on the barren sands, the suffering chief Roared out for anguish, and indulged his grief." Dryden.
"He scorned to roar under the impressions of a finite anger." South.
2. To make a loud, confused sound, as winds, waves, passing vehicles, a crowd of persons when shouting together, or the like.
"The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar." Milton.
"How oft I crossed where carts and coaches roar." Gay.
3. To be boisterous; to be disorderly.
"It was a mad, roaring time, full of extravagance." Bp. Burnet.
4. To laugh out loudly and continuously; as the hearers roared at his jokes.
5. To make a loud noise in breathing, as horses having a certain disease. See Roaring, 2. Roaring boy, a roaring, noisy fellow; — name given, at the latter end Queen Elizabeth’s reign, to the riotous fellows who raised disturbances in the street. "Two roaring boys of Rome, that made all split." Beau. & Fl. — Roaring forties (Naut.), a sailor’s name for the stormy tract of ocean between 40° and 50° north latitude.
Roar, v. t. To cry aloud; to proclaim loudly.
"This last action will roar thy infamy." Ford.
Roarer
Roar´er, n.
1. One who, or that which, roars. Specifically: (a) A riotous fellow; a roaring boy.
"A lady to turn roarer, and break glasses." Massinger. (b) (Far.) A horse subject to roaring. See Roaring, 2.
2. (Zoöl.) The barn owl. [Prov. Eng.]
Roaring
Roar´ing, n.
1. A loud, deep, prolonged sound, as of a large beast, or of a person in distress, anger, mirth, etc., or of a noisy congregation.
2. (Far.) An affection of the windpipe of a horse, causing a loud, peculiar noise in breathing under exertion; the making of the noise so caused. See Roar, v. i., 5.
Roast, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Roasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Roasting.] [OE. rosten, OF. rostir, F. rôtir; of German origin; cf. OHG. rosten, G. rösten, fr. OHG. rost, rosta, gridiron, G. rost; cf. AS. hyrstan to roast.]
1. To cook by exposure to radiant heat before a fire; as to roast meat on a spit, or in an oven open toward the fire and having reflecting surfaces within; also to cook in a close oven.
2. To cook by surrounding with hot embers, ashes, sand, etc.; as to roast a potato in ashes.
"In eggs boiled and roasted there is scarce difference to be discerned." BAcon.
3. To dry and parch by exposure to heat; as to roast coffee; to roast chestnuts, or peanuts.
4. Hence, to heat to excess; to heat violently; to burn. "Roasted in wrath and fire." Shak.
5. (Metal.) To dissipate by heat the volatile parts of, as ores.
6. To banter severely. [Colloq.] Atterbury.
Roasting
Roast´ing, a. & n., from Roast, v. Roasting ear, an ear of Indian corn at that stage of development when it is fit to be eaten roasted. — Roasting jack, a machine for turning a spit on which meat is roasted.
Rob, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Robbed p. pr. & vb. n. Robbing.] [OF. rober, of German origin; cf. OHG. roubn, G. rauben, and OHG. roub robbing, booty, G. raub. rad.114. See Reave,and cf. Robe.]
1. To take (something) away from by force; to strip by stealing; to plunder; to pillage; to steal from.
"Who would rob a hermit of his weeds,
His few books, or his beads, or maple dish?" Milton.
"He that is robbed, not wanting what is stolen,
Let him not know it, and he’s not robbed at all." Shak.
"To be executed for robbing a church." Shak.
2. (Law) To take the property of (any one) from his person, or in his presence, feloniously, and against his will, by violence or by putting him in fear.
3. To deprive of, or withhold from, unjustly or injuriously; to defraud; as to rob one of his rest, or of his good name; a tree robs the plants near it of sunlight.
"I never robbed the soldiers of their pay." Shak.
Robber
Rob´ber, n. One who robs; in law, one who feloniously takes goods or money from the person of another by violence or by putting him in fear.
"Some roving robber calling to his fellows." Milton.
Syn. — Thief; depredator; despoiler; plunderer; pillager; rifler; brigang; freebooter; pirate. See Thief. Robber crab. (Zoöl.) (a) A purse crab. (b) Any hermit crab. — Robber fly. (Zoöl.) Same as Hornet fly, under Hornet. — Robber gull (Zoöl.), a jager gull.
Robbery
Rob´ber•y, n. ; pl. Robberies (#). [OF. roberie.]
1. The act or practice of robbing; theft.
"Thieves for their robbery have authority
When judges steal themselves." Shak.
2. (Law) The crime of robbing. See Rob, v. t., 2. Robbery, in a strict sense, differs from theft, as it is effected by force or intimidation, whereas theft is committed by stealth, or privately.
Syn. — Theft; depredation; spoliation; despoliation; despoilment; plunder; pillage; rapine; larceny; freebooting; piracy.
Robe, n. [F., fr. LL. rauba a gown, dress, garment; originally, booty, plunder. See Rob, v. t., and cf. Rubbish.]
1. An outer garment; a dress of a rich, flowing, and elegant style or make; hence, a dress of state, rank, office, or the like.
"Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; Robes and furred gowns hide all." Shak.
2. A skin of an animal, especially, a skin of the bison, dressed with the fur on, and used as a wrap. [U.S.] Master of the robes, an officer of the English royal household (when the sovereign is a king) whose duty is supposed to consist in caring for the royal robes. — Mistress of the robes, a lady who enjoys the highest rank of the ladies in the service of the English sovereign (when a queen), and is supposed to have the care her robes.
Robe, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Robed p. pr. & vb. n. Robing.] To invest with a robe or robes; to dress; to array; as fields robed with green.
"The sage Chaldeans robed in white appeared." Pope.
"Such was his power over the expression of his countenance, that he could in an instant shake off the sternness of winter, and robe it in the brightest smiles of spring." Wirt.
Robin
Rob´in, n. [Properly a pet name for Robert, originally meaning, famebright; F., fron OHG. Roudperht; ruod (in comp.; akin to AS. hr glory, fame, Goth. hrpeigs victorius) + beraht bright. See Bright, Hob a clown.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small European singing bird ( Erythacus rubecula), having a reddish breast; — called also robin redbreast, robinet, and ruddock. (b) An American singing bird ( Merula migratoria), having the breast chestnut, or dull red. The upper parts are olive-gray, the head and tail blackish. Called also robin redbreast, and migratory thrush. (c) Any one of several species of Australian warblers of the genera Petroica, Melanadrays, and allied genera; as the scarlet-breasted robin ( Petroica mullticolor). (d) Any one of several Asiatic birds; as the Indian robins. See Indian robin, below. Beach robin (Zoöl.), the robin snipe, or knot. See Knot. — Blue-throated robin. (Zoöl.) See Bluethroat. - - Canada robin (Zoöl.), the cedar bird. — Golden robin (Zoöl.), the Baltimore oriole. — Ground robin (Zoöl.), the chewink. — Indian robin (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Asiatic saxoline birds of the genera Thamnobia and Pratincola. They are mostly black, usually with some white on the wings. — Magrie robin (Zoöl.), an Asiatic singing bird ( Corsycus saularis), having the back, head, neck, and breast black glossed with blue, the wings black, and the belly white. — Ragged robin. (Bot.) See under Ragged. — Robin accentor (Zoöl.), a small Asiatic singing bird ( Accentor rubeculoides), somewhat resembling the European robin. — Robin redbreast. (Zoöl.) (a) The European robin. (b) The American robin. (c) The American bluebird. — Robin snipe. (Zoöl.) (a) The red-breasted snipe, or dowitcher. (b) The red-breasted sandpiper, or knot. — Robin’s plantain. (Bot.) See under Plantain. — Sea robin. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of American gurnards of the genus Prionotus. They are excellent food fishes. Called also wingfish. The name is also applied to a European gurnard. (b) The red-breasted merganser, or sheldrake. [Local, U.S.] — Water robin (Zoöl.), a redstart ( Ruticulla fuliginosa), native of India.
Robin Goodfellow
Rob"in Good"fel•low A celebrated fairy; Puck. See Puck. Shak.
Roble
Ro´ble, n. [Sp., oak.] (Bot.) The California white oak ( Quercus lobata).
Roborant
Rob´o•rant, a. [L. roborans, p. pr. See Roborate.] Strengthening. — n. (Med.) A strengthening medicine; a tonic.
Robust
Ro•bust´, a. [L. robustus oaken, hard, strong, fr. robur strength, a very hard kind of oak; cf. Skr. rabhas violence: cf. F. robuste.]
1. Evincing strength; indicating vigorous health; strong; sinewy; muscular; vigorous; sound; as a robust body; robust youth; robust health.
2. Violent; rough; rude.
"While romp-loving miss
Is hauled about in gallantry robust." Thomson.
3. Requiring strength or vigor; as robust employment. Locke.
Syn. — Strong; lusty; sinewy; sturdy; muscular; hale; hearty; vigorous; forceful; sound. — Robust, Strong. Robust means, literally, made of oak, and hence implies great compactness and toughness of muscle, connected with a thick-set frame and great powers of endurance. Strong denotes the power of exerting great physical force. The robust man can bear heat or cold, excess or privation, and toil on through every kind of hardship; the strong man can lift a great weight, can give a heavy blow, and a hard gripe. "Robust, tough sinews bred to toil." Cowper.
"Then ’gan the villain wax so fierce and strong, That nothing may sustain his furious force." Spenser.
Robustness
Ro•bust´ness, n. The quality or state of being robust.
Roc, n. [Ar. & Per. rokh or rukh. Cf. Rook a castle.] A monstrous bird of Arabian mythology. [Written also rock, and rukh.] Brande & C.
Rocaille
Ro•caille´, n. [F. Cf. Rock a stone.] (Art) (a) Artificial rockwork made of rough stones and cement, as for gardens. (b) The rococo system of scroll ornament, based in part on the forms of shells and water-worn rocks.
Roche, n. [See Rock.] Rock. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Roche moutonnee
Roche" mou•ton•nee" [F., sheep-shaped rock.] (Geol.) See Sheepback.
Rochelle
Ro•chelle´, n. A seaport town in France. Rochelle powders. Same as Seidlitz powders. — Rochelle salt (Chem.), the double tartrate of sodium and potassium, a white crystalline substance. It has a cooling, saline, slightly bitter taste and is employed as a mild purgative. It was discovered by Seignette, an apothecary of Rochelle, and is called also Seignete’s salt.
Rochet
Roch´et, n. [Probably corrupted fr. F. rouget the red gurnet, from rouge red. CF. Rouge.] (Zoöl.) The red gurnard, or gurnet. See Gurnard.
Rock, n. [OE. rocke; akin to D. rok, rokken, G. rocken, OHG. roccho, Dan. rok, Icel. rokkr. Cf. Rocket a firework.] A distaff used in spinning; the staff or frame about which flax is arranged, and from which the thread is drawn in spinning. Chapman.
"Sad Clotho held the rocke, the whiles the thread
By grisly Lachesis was spun with pain,
That cruel Atropos eftsoon undid." Spenser.
Rock, n. [OF. roke, F. roche; cf. Armor. roc’h, and AS. rocc.]
1. A large concreted mass of stony material; a large fixed stone or crag. See Stone.
"Come one, come all! this rock shall fly
From its firm base as soon as I." Sir W. Scott.
2. (Geol.) Any natural deposit forming a part of the earth’s crust, whether consolidated or not, including sand, earth, clay, etc., when in natural beds.
3. That which resembles a rock in firmness; a defense; a support; a refuge.
"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress." 2 Sam. xxii. 2.
4. Fig.: Anything which causes a disaster or wreck resembling the wreck of a vessel upon a rock.
5. (Zoöl.) The striped bass. See under Bass. This word is frequently used in the formation of self- explaining compounds; as rock-bound, rock-built, rock-ribbed, rock-roofed, and the like. Rock alum. [Probably so called by confusion with F. roche a rock.] Same as Roche alum. — Rock barnacle (Zoöl.), a barnacle ( Balanus balanoides) very abundant on rocks washed by tides. — Rock bass. (Zoöl.) (a) The stripped bass. See under Bass. (b) The goggle-eye. (c) The cabrilla. Other species are also locally called rock bass. — Rock builder (Zoöl.), any species of animal whose remains contribute to the formation of rocks, especially the corals and Foraminifera. — Rock butter (Min.), native alum mixed with clay and oxide of iron, usually in soft masses of a yellowish white color, occuring in cavities and fissures in argillaceous slate. — Rock candy, a form of candy consisting of crystals of pure sugar which are very hard, whence the name. — Rock cavy. (Zoöl.) See Moco. — Rock cod (Zoöl.) (a) A small, often reddish or brown, variety of the cod found about rocks andledges. (b) A California rockfish. — Rock cook. (Zoöl.) (a) A European wrasse ( Centrolabrus exoletus). (b) A rockling. — Rock cork (Min.), a variety of asbestus the fibers of which are loosely interlaced. It resembles cork in its texture. — Rock crab (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large crabs of the genus Cancer, as the two species of the New England coast ( C. irroratus and C. borealis). See Illust. under Cancer. — Rock cress (Bot.), a name of several plants of the cress kind found on rocks, as Arabis petraea, A. lyrata, etc. — Rock crystal (Min.), limpid quartz. See Quartz, and under Crystal. — Rock dove (Zoöl.), the rock pigeon; — called also rock doo. — Rock drill, an implement for drilling holes in rock; esp., a machine impelled by steam or compressed air, for drilling holes for blasting, etc. — Rock duck (Zoöl.), the harlequin duck. — Rock eel. (Zoöl.) See Gunnel. — Rock goat (Zoöl.), a wild goat, or ibex. — Rock hopper (Zoöl.), a penguin of the genus Catarractes. See under Penguin. — Rock kangaroo. (Zoöl.) See Kangaroo, and Petrogale. — Rock lobster (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large spinose lobsters of the genera Panulirus and Palinurus. They have no large claws. Called also spiny lobster, and sea crayfish. — Rock meal (Min.), a light powdery variety of calcite occuring as an efflorescence. — Rock milk. (Min.) See Agaric mineral, under Agaric. — Rock moss, a kind of lichen; the cudbear. See Cudbear. — Rock oil. See Petroleum. — Rock parrakeet (Zoöl.), a small Australian parrakeet ( Euphema petrophila), which nests in holes among the rocks of high cliffs. Its general color is yellowish olive green; a frontal band and the outer edge of the wing quills are deep blue, and the central tail feathers bluish green. — Rock pigeon (Zoöl.), the wild pigeon ( Columba livia) Of Europe and Asia, from which the domestic pigeon was derived. See Illust. under Pigeon. — Rock pipit. (Zoöl.) See the Note under Pipit. — Rock plover. (Zoöl.) (a) The black-bellied, or whistling, plover. (b) The rock snipe. - - Rock ptarmigan (Zoöl.), an arctic American ptarmigan ( Lagopus rupestris), which in winter is white, with the tail and lores black. In summer the males are grayish brown, coarsely vermiculated with black, and have black patches on the back. — Rock rabbit (Zoöl.), the hyrax. See Cony, and Daman. — Rock ruby (Min.), a fine reddish variety of garnet. — Rock salt (Min.), cloride of sodium (common salt) occuring in rocklike masses in mines; mineral salt; salt dug from the earth. In the United States this name is sometimes given to salt in large crystals, formed by evaporation from sea water in large basins or cavities. — Rock seal (Zoöl.), the harbor seal. See Seal. — Rock shell (Zoöl.), any species of Murex, Purpura, and allied genera. — Rock snake (Zoöl.), any one of several large pythons; as the royal rock snake ( Python regia) of Africa, and the rock snake of India ( P. molurus). The Australian rock snakes mostly belong to the allied genus Morelia. — Rock snipe (Zoöl.), the purple sandpiper ( Tringa maritima); — called also rock bird, rock plover, winter snipe. — Rock soap (Min.), a kind of clay having a smooth, greasy feel, and adhering to the tongue. — Rock sparrow. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of Old World sparrows of the genus Petronia, as P. stulla, of Europe. (b) A North American sparrow ( Pucaea ruficeps). — Rock tar, petroleum. — Rock thrush (Zoöl.), any Old World thrush of the genus Monticola, or Petrocossyphus; as the European rock thrush ( M. saxatilis), and the blue rock thrush of India ( M. cyaneus), in which the male is blue throughout. — Rock tripe (Bot.), a kind of lichen ( Umbilicaria Dillenii) growing on rocks in the northen parts of America, and forming broad, flat, coriaceous, dark fuscous or blackish expansions. It has been used as food in cases of extremity. — Rock trout (Zoöl.), any one of several species of marine food fishes of the genus Hexagrammus, family Chiradae, native of the North Pacific coasts; — called also sea trout, boregat, bodieron, and starling. — Rock warbler (Zoöl.), a small Australian singing bird ( Origma rubricata) which frequents rocky ravines and water courses; — called also cataract bird. — Rock wren (Zoöl.), any one of several species of wrens of the genus Salpinctes, native of the arid plains of Lower California and Mexico.
Rock, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Rocked p. pr. & vb. n. Rocking.] [AS. roccian; akin to Dan. rokke to move, to snake; cf. Icel. rukkja to pull, move, G. rücken to move, push, pull.]
1. To cause to sway backward and forward, as a body resting on a support beneath; as to rock a cradle or chair; to cause to vibrate; to cause to reel or totter.
"A rising earthquake rocked the ground." Dryden.
2. To move as in a cradle; hence, to put to sleep by rocking; to still; to quiet. "Sleep rock thy brain." Shak. Rock differs from shake, as denoting a slower, less violent, and more uniform motion, or larger movements. It differs from swing, which expresses a vibratory motion of something suspended.
Rock shaft
Rock" shaft [Cf. Rock, v. i.] (Mach.) A shaft that oscillates on its journals, instead of revolving, — usually carrying levers by means of which it receives and communicates reciprocating motion, as in the valve gear of some steam engines; — called also rocker, rocking shaft, and way shaft.
Rock staff
Rock" staff [Cf. Rock, v. i.] An oscillating bar in a machine, as the lever of the bellows of a forge.
Rockaway
Rock´a•way, [Probably from Rockaway beach, where it was used.] Formerly, a light, low, four-wheeled carriage, with standing top, open at the sides, but having waterproof curtains which could be let down when occasion required; now, a somewhat similar, but heavier, carriage, inclosed, except in front, and having a door at each side. { Rock´e•lay, Rock´lay }, n. See Rokelay. [Scot.]
Rocker
Rock´er, n.
1. One who rocks; specifically, one who rocks a cradle.
"It was I, sir, said the rocker, who had the honor, some thirty years since, to attend on your highness in your infancy." Fuller.
2. One of the curving pieces of wood or metal on which a cradle, chair, etc., rocks.
3. Any implement or machine working with a rocking motion, as a trough mounted on rockers for separating gold dust from gravel, etc., by agitation in water.
4. A play horse on rockers; a rocking- horse.
5. A chair mounted on rockers; a rocking- chair.
6. A skate with a curved blade, somewhat resembling in shape the rocker of a cradle.
7. (Mach.) Same as Rock shaft. Rocker arm (Mach.), an arm borne by a rock shaft.
Rockered
Rock´ered, a. (Naut.) Shaped like a rocker; curved; as a rockered keel.
Rocket
Rock´et, n. [F. roquette (cf. Sp. ruqueta, It ruchetta), fr. L. eruca.] (Bot.) (a) A cruciferous plant ( Eruca sativa) sometimes eaten in Europe as a salad. (b) Damewort. (c) Rocket larkspur. See below. Dyer’s Rocket. (Bot.) See Dyer’s broom, under Broom. — Rocket larkspur (Bot.), an annual plant with showy flowers in long racemes ( Delphinium Ajacis). — Sea rocket (Bot.), either of two fleshy cruciferous plants ( Cakile maritima and C. Americana) found on the seashore of Europe and America. — Yellow rocket (Bot.), a common cruciferous weed with yellow flowers ( Barbarea vulgaris).
Rocket
Rock´et, n. [It. rocchetta, fr. rocca a distaff, of German origin. Named from the resemblance in shape to a distaff. See Rock a distaff.]
1. An artificial firework consisting of a cylindrical case of paper or metal filled with a composition of combustible ingredients, as niter, charcoal, and sulphur, and fastened to a guiding stick. The rocket is projected through the air by the force arising from the expansion of the gases liberated by combustion of the composition. Rockets are used as projectiles for various purposes, for signals, and also for pyrotechnic display.
2. A blunt lance head used in the joust. Congreve rocket, a powerful form of rocket for use in war, invented by Sir William Congreve. It may be used either in the field or for bombardment; in the former case, it is armed with shells or case shot; in the latter, with a combustible material inclosed in a metallic case, which is inextinguishable when kindled, and scatters its fire on every side.
Rocket
Rock´et, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rocketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rocketing.] (Sporting) To rise straight up; said of birds; usually in the present participle or as an adjective. [Eng.]
"An old cock pheasant came rocketing over me." H. R. Haggard.
Rockfish
Rock´fish, n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several California scorpaenoid food fishes of the genus Sebastichthys, as the red rockfish ( S. ruber). They are among the most important of California market fishes. Called also rock cod, and garrupa. (b) The striped bass. See Bass. (c) Any one of several species of Florida and Bermuda groupers of the genus Epinephelus. (d) An American fresh- water darter; the log perch. The term is locally applied to various other fishes.
Rockiness
Rock´i•ness, n. [From Rocky.] The state or quality of being rocky.
Rocking
Rock´ing, a. Having a swaying, rolling, or back-and-forth movement; used for rocking. Rocking shaft. (Mach.) See Rock shaft.
Rocking-chair
Rock´ing-chair, n. A chair mounted on rockers, in which one may rock.
Rocking-horse
Rock´ing-horse, n. The figure of a horse, mounted upon rockers, for children to ride.
Rockweed
Rock´weed, n. (Bot.) Any coarse seaweed growing on sea-washed rocks, especially Fucus.
Rockwood
Rock´wood, n. (Min.) Ligniform asbestus; also fossil wood.
Rocky
Rock´y, a.
1. Full of, or abounding in, rocks; consisting of rocks; as a rocky mountain; a rocky shore.
2. Like a rock; as the rocky orb of a shield. Milton.
3. Fig.: Not easily impressed or affected; hard; unfeeling; obdurate; as a rocky bosom. Shak. Rocky Mountain locust (Zoöl.), the Western locust, or grasshopper. See Grasshopper. - - Rocky Mountain sheep. (Zoöl.) See Bighorn.
Rocoa
Ro´coa, n. [Cf. F. rocou, roicou, Pg. & Braz, urucú.] The orange- colored pulp covering the seeds of the tropical plant Bixa Orellana, from which annotto is prepared. See Annoto.
Rococo
Ro•co´co, a. Of or pertaining to the style called rococo; like rococo; florid; fantastic.
Rod, n. [The same word as rood. See Rood.]
1. A straight and slender stick; a wand; hence, any slender bar, as of wood or metal (applied to various purposes). Specifically: (a) An instrument of punishment or correction; figuratively, chastisement.
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son." Prov. xiii. 24. (b) A kind of sceptor, or badge of office; hence, figuratively, power; authority; tyranny; oppression. "The rod, and bird of peace." Shak. (c) A support for a fishing line; a fish pole. Gay. (d) (Mach. & Structure) A member used in tension, as for sustaining a suspended weight, or in tension and compression, as for transmitting reciprocating motion, etc.; a connecting bar. (e) An instrument for measuring.
2. A measure of length containing sixteen and a half feet; — called also perch, and pole. Black rod. See in the Vocabulary. — Rods and cones (Anat.), the elongated cells or elements of the sensory layer of the retina, some of which are cylindrical, others somewhat conical.
Rode, n. [See Rud.] Redness; complexion. [Obs.] "His rode was red." Chaucer.
Rode, n. See Rood, the cross. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Rodent
Ro´dent, a. [L. rodens, - entis, p. pr. of rodere to gnaw. See Rase, v. t., and cf. Rostrum.]
1. Gnawing; biting; corroding; (Med.) applied to a destructive variety of cancer or ulcer.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) Gnawing. (b) Of or pertaining to the Rodentia.
Rodentia
Ro•den´ti•a, n. pl. [NL. See Rodent, a. ] (Zoöl.) An order of mammals having two (rarely four) large incisor teeth in each jaw, distant from the molar teeth. The rats, squirrels, rabbits, marmots, and beavers belong to this order. The incisor teeth are long, curved, and strongly enameled on the outside, so as to keep a cutting edge. They have a persistent pulp and grow continuously.
Rodeo
Ro•de´o, n. [SP., a going round.] A round-up. See Round-up. [Western U.S.]
Rodomel
Rod´o•mel, n. [Gr. rose + honey.] Juice of roses mixed with honey. Simmonds.
Rodomont
Rod´o•mont, n. [F. rodomont, It. rodomonte, fr. Rodomonte, Rodamonte, a boasting hero in the "Orlando Furioso" of Ariosto, and the "Orlando Innamorato" of Bojardo; properly, one who rolls away mountains; Prov. It. rodare to roll away (fr. L. rota a wheel) + It. monte a mountain, L. mons. See Rotary, Mount, n. ] A vain or blustering boaster; a braggart; a braggadocio. Sir T. Herbert.
Rodomontade
Rod•o•mon•tade´, n. [F., fr. It. rodomontana. See Rodomont, n. ] Vain boasting; empty bluster or vaunting; rant.
"I could show that the rodomontades of Almanzor are neither so irrational nor impossible." Dryden.
Rodomontade
Rod•o•mon•tade´, v. i. To boast; to brag; to bluster; to rant.
Roe, n. [OE. ro, AS. rah; akin to D. ree, G. reh, Icel. ra, SW. rå.] (Zoöl.) (a) A roebuck. See Roebuck. (b) The female of any species of deer.
Rogation
Ro•ga´tion, n. [L. rogatio, fr. rogare, rogatum, to ask, beg, supplicate: cf. F. rogation. Cf. Abrogate, Arrogant, Probogue.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) The demand, by the consuls or tribunes, of a law to be passed by the people; a proposed law or decree.
2. (Eccl.) Litany; supplication.
"He perfecteth the rogations or litanies before in use." Hooker. Rogation days (Eccl.), the three days which immediately precede Ascension Day; — so called as being days on which the people, walking in procession, sang litanies of special supplication. — Rogation flower (Bot.), a European species of milkwort ( Polygala vulgaris); — so called from its former use for garlands in Rogation week. Dr. Prior. — Rogation week, the second week before Whitsunday, in which the Rogation days occur.
Rogatory
Rog´a•to•ry, a. [See Rogation.] Seeking information; authorized to examine witnesses or ascertain facts; as a rogatory commission. Woolsey.
Rogue, n. [F. rogue proud, haughty, supercilious; cf. Icel. hrkr a rook, croaker (cf. Rook a bird), or Armor. rok, rog, proud, arogant.]
1. (Eng.Law) A vagrant; an idle, sturdy beggar; a vagabond; a tramp. The phrase rogues and vagabonds is applied to a large class of wandering, disorderly, or dissolute persons. They were formerly punished by being whipped and having the gristle of the right ear bored with a hot iron.
2. A deliberately dishonest person; a knave; a cheat.
"The rogue and fool by fits is fair and wise." Pope.
3. One who is pleasantly mischievous or frolicsome; hence, often used as a term of endearment.
"Ah, you sweet little rogue, you!" Shak.
4. An elephant that has separated from a herd and roams about alone, in which state it is very savage.
5. (Hort.) A worthless plant occuring among seedlings of some choice variety. Rogues’ gallery, a collection of portraits of rogues or criminals, for the use of the police authorities. — Rogue’s march, derisive music performed in driving away a person under popular indignation or official sentence, as when a soldier is drummed out of a regiment. — Rogue’s yarn, yarn of a different twist and color from the rest, inserted into the cordage of the British navy, to identify it if stolen, or for the purpose of tracing the maker in case of defect. Different makers are required to use yarns of different colors.
Rogue, v. i. To wander; to play the vagabond; to play knavish tricks. [Obs.] Spenser.
Rogueship
Rogue´ship, n. The quality or state of being a rogue. [Jocose] "Your rogueship." Dryden.
Roil, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Roiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Roiling.] [Cf. OE. roilen to wander; possibly fr. OF. roeler to roll, equiv. to F. rouler. See Roll, v. , and cf. Rile.]
1. To render turbid by stirring up the dregs or sediment of; as to roil wine, cider, etc., in casks or bottles; to roil a spring.
2. To disturb, as the temper; to ruffle the temper of; to rouse the passion of resentment in; to perplex.
"That his friends should believe it, was what roiled him [Judge Jeffreys] exceedingly." R. North. Provincial in England and colloquial in the United States. A commoner, but less approved, form is rile.
Roil, v. i.
1. To wander; to roam. [Obs.]
2. To romp. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Roin, v. t. See Royne. [Obs.]
Roin, n. [F. rogne. See Roynish.] A scab; a scurf, or scurfy spot. [Obs.]
Roinish
Roin´ish, a. See Roynish. [Obs.]
Roister
Roist´er, v. i. [Probably fr. F. rustre boor, a clown, clownish, fr. L. rustucus rustic. See Rustic.] To bluster; to swagger; to bully; to be bold, noisy, vaunting, or turbulent.
"I have a roisting challenge sent amongst
The dull and factious nobles of the Greeks." Shak.
Roke, n. [See Reek.]
1. Mist; smoke; damp [Prov. Eng.] [Written also roak, rook, and rouk.]
2. A vein of ore. [Pov.Eng.] Halliwell. { Roke´age, Rok´ee } n. [Cf. Nocake.] Parched Indian corn, pounded up and mixed with sugar; — called also yokeage. [Local, U.S.]
Rokelay
Rok´e•lay, n. [Cf. Roquelaure.] A short cloak. [Written also rockelay, rocklay, etc.] [Scot.]
Roky
Rok´y, a. [See Roke.] Misty; foggy; cloudy. [Prov. Eng.] Ray.
Roll, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Rolled p. pr. & vb. n. Rolling.] [OF. roeler, roler, F. rouler, LL. rotulare, fr. L. royulus, rotula, a little wheel, dim. of rota wheel; akin to G. rad, and to Skr. ratha car, chariot. Cf. Control, Roll, n. , Rotary.]
1. To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to move by turning on an axis; to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a supporting surface; as to roll a wheel, a ball, or a barrel.
2. To wrap round on itself; to form into a spherical or cylindrical body by causing to turn over and over; as to roll a sheet of paper; to roll parchment; to roll clay or putty into a ball.
3. To bind or involve by winding, as in a bandage; to inwrap; — often with up; as to roll up a parcel.
4. To drive or impel forward with an easy motion, as of rolling; as a river rolls its waters to the ocean.
"The flood of Catholic reaction was rolled over Europe." J. A. Symonds.
5. To utter copiously, esp. with sounding words; to utter with a deep sound; — often with forth, or out; as to roll forth some one’s praises; to roll out sentences.
"Who roll’d the psalm to wintry skies." Tennyson.
6. To press or level with a roller; to spread or form with a roll, roller, or rollers; as to roll a field; to roll paste; to roll steel rails, etc.
7. To move, or cause to be moved, upon, or by means of, rollers or small wheels.
8. To beat with rapid, continuous strokes, as a drum; to sound a roll upon.
9. (Geom.) To apply (one line or surface) to another without slipping; to bring all the parts of (one line or surface) into successive contact with another, in suck manner that at every instant the parts that have been in contact are equal.
10. To turn over in one’s mind; to revolve.
"Full oft in heart he rolleth up and down
The beauty of these florins new and bright." Chaucer. To roll one’s self, to wallow. — To roll the eye, to direct its axis hither and thither in quick succession. — To roll one’s r’s, to utter the letter r with a trill. [Colloq.]
Roll, n. [F. rôle a roll (in sense 3), fr. L. rotulus little wheel, LL., a roll, dim. of L. rota a wheel. See Roll, v. , and cf. Rôle, Rouleau, Roulette.]
1. The act of rolling, or state of being rolled; as the roll of a ball; the roll of waves.
2. That which rolls; a roller. Specifically: (a) A heavy cylinder used to break clods. Mortimer. (b) One of a set of revolving cylinders, or rollers, between which metal is pressed, formed, or smoothed, as in a rolling mill; as to pass rails through the rolls.
3. That which is rolled up; as a roll of fat, of wool, paper, cloth, etc. Specifically: (a) A document written on a piece of parchment, paper, or other materials which may be rolled up; a scroll.
"Busy angels spread
The lasting roll, recording what we say." Prior. (b) Hence, an official or public document; a register; a record; also a catalogue; a list.
"The rolls of Parliament, the entry of the petitions, answers, and transactions in Parliament, are extant." Sir M. Hale.
"The roll and list of that army doth remain." Sir J. Davies. (c) A quantity of cloth wound into a cylindrical form; as a roll of carpeting; a roll of ribbon. (d) A cylindrical twist of tobacco.
4. A kind of shortened raised biscuit or bread, often rolled or doubled upon itself.
5. (Naut.) The oscillating movement of a vessel from side to side, in sea way, as distinguished from the alternate rise and fall of bow and stern called pitching.
6. A heavy, reverberatory sound; as the roll of cannon, or of thunder.
7. The uniform beating of a drum with strokes so rapid as scarcely to be distinguished by the ear.
8. Part; office; duty; rôle. [Obs.] L’Estrange.Long roll (Mil.), a prolonged roll of the drums, as the signal of an attack by the enemy, and for the troops to arrange themselves in line. — Master of the rolls. See under Master. — Roll call, the act, or the time, of calling over a list names, as among soldiers. — Rolls of court, of parliament (or of any public body), the parchments or rolls on which the acts and proceedings of that body are engrossed by the proper officer, and which constitute the records of such public body. — To call the roll, to call off or recite a list or roll of names of persons belonging to an organization, in order to ascertain who are present or to obtain responses from those present.
Syn. — List; schedule; catalogue; register; inventory. See List.
Roller
Roll´er, n.
1. One who, or that which, rolls; especially, a cylinder, sometimes grooved, of wood, stone, metal, etc., used in husbandry and the arts.
2. A bandage; a fillet; properly, a long and broad bandage used in surgery.
3. (Naut.) One of series of long, heavy waves which roll in upon a coast, sometimes in calm weather.
4. A long, belt-formed towel, to be suspended on a rolling cylinder; — called also roller towel.
5. (Print.) A cylinder coated with a composition made principally of glue and molassess, with which forms of type are inked previously to taking an impression from them. W. Savage.
6. A long cylinder on which something is rolled up; as the roller of a man.
7. A small wheel, as of a caster, a roller skate, etc.
8. (Zoöl.) ANy insect whose larva rolls up leaves; a leaf roller. see Tortrix.
9. [CF. F. rollier.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of Old World picarian birds of the family Coraciadae. The name alludes to their habit of suddenly turning over or "tumbling" in flight. Many of the species are brilliantly colored. The common European species ( Coracias garrula) has the head, neck, and under parts light blue varied with green, the scapulars chestnut brown, and the tail blue, green, and black. The broad-billed rollers of India and Africa belong to the genus Eurystomus, as the oriental roller ( E. orientalis), and the Australian roller, or dollar bird ( E. Pacificus). The latter is dark brown on the head and neck, sea green on the back, and bright blue on the throat, base of the tail, and parts of the wings. It has a silvery-white spot on the middle of each wing.
10. (Zoöl.) Any species of small ground snakes of the family Tortricidae. Ground roller (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Madagascar rollers belonging to Atelornis and allied genera. They are nocturnal birds, and feed on the ground. — Roller bolt, the bar in a carriage to which the traces are attached; a whiffletree. [Eng.] — Roller gin, a cotton gin inn which rolls are used for separating the seeds from the fiber. — Roller mill. See under Mill. — Roller skate, a skate which has small wheels in the place of the metallic runner; — designed for use in skating upon a smooth, hard surface, other than ice.
Roller bearing
Roll"er bear"ing. (Mach.) A bearing containing friction rollers.
Rollic
Rol´lic (rol"lik), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rollicked (-likt); p. pr. & vb. n. Rollicking.] [Corrupt. fr. frolic, under the influence of roll.] To move or play in a careless, swaggering manner, with a frolicsome air; to frolic; to sport; commonly in the form rollicking. [Colloq.]
"He described his friends as rollicking blades." T. Hook.
Rolling
Roll´ing, a.
1. Rotating on an axis, or moving along a surface by rotation; turning over and over as if on an axis or a pivot; as a rolling wheel or ball.
2. Moving on wheels or rollers, or as if on wheels or rollers; as a rolling chair.
3. Having gradual, rounded undulations of surface; as a rolling country; rolling land. [U.S.] Rolling bridge. See the Note under Drawbridge. — Rolling circle of a paddle wheel, the circle described by the point whose velocity equals the velocity of the ship. J. Bourne. — Rolling fire (Mil.), a discharge of firearms by soldiers in line, in quick succession, and in the order in which they stand. — Rolling friction, that resistance to motion experienced by one body rolling upon another which arises from the roughness or other quality of the surfaces in contact. — Rolling mill, a mill furnished with heavy rolls, between which heated metal is passed, to form it into sheets, rails, etc. — Rolling press. (a) A machine for calendering cloth by pressure between revolving rollers. (b) A printing press with a roller, used in copperplate printing. — Rolling stock, or Rolling plant, the locomotives and vehicles of a railway. — Rolling tackle (Naut.), tackle used to steady the yards when the ship rolls heavily. R. H. Dana, Jr.
Rollway
Roll´way, n. A place prepared for rolling logs into a stream.
Romage
Rom´age, n. & v. See Rummage. [Obs.] Shak.
Romaic
Ro•ma´ic, a. [NGr. : cf. F. romaïque. See Roman.] Of or relating to modern Greece, and especially to its language. — n. The modern Greek language, now usually called by the Greeks Hellenic or Neo-Hellenic. The Greeks at the time of the capture of Constantinople were proud of being "Romai^oi, or Romans … Hence the term Romaic was the name given to the popular language… . The Greek language is now spoken of as the Hellenic language. Encyc. Brit.
Roman
Ro´man, a. [L. Romanus, fr. Roma Rome: cf. F. romain. Cf. Romaic, Romance, Romantic.]
1. Of or pertaining to Rome, or the Roman people; like or characteristic of Rome, the Roman people, or things done by Romans; as Roman fortitude; a Roman aqueduct; Roman art.
2. Of or pertaining to the Roman Catholic religion; professing that religion.
3. (Print.) (a) Upright; erect; — said of the letters or kind of type ordinarily used, as distinguished from Italic characters. (b) Expressed in letters, not in figures, as I., IV., i., iv., etc.; — said of numerals, as distinguished from the Arabic numerals, 1, 4, etc. Roman alum (Chem.), a cubical potassium alum formerly obtained in large quantities from Italian alunite, and highly valued by dyers on account of its freedom from iron. — Roman balance, a form of balance nearly resembling the modern steelyard. See the Note under Balance, n. , 1. — Roman candle, a kind of firework (generally held in the hand), characterized by the continued emission of shower of sparks, and the ejection, at intervals, of brilliant balls or stars of fire which are thrown upward as they become ignited. — Roman Catholic, of, pertaining to, or the religion of that church of which the pope is the spiritual head; as a Roman Catholic priest; the Roman Catholic Church. — Roman cement, a cement having the property of hardening under water; a species of hydraulic cement. — Roman law. See under Law. — Roman nose, a nose somewhat aquiline. — Roman ocher, a deep, rich orange color, transparent and durable, used by artists. Ure. — Roman order (Arch.), the composite order. See Composite, a. , 2.
Romance
Ro•mance´, n. [OE. romance, romant, romaunt, OF. romanz, romans, romant, roman, F. roman, romance, fr. LL. Romanice in the Roman language, in the vulgar tongue, i. e., in the vulgar language which sprang from Latin, the language of the Romans, and hence applied to fictitious compositions written in this vulgar tongue; fr. L. Romanicus Roman, fr. Romanus. See Roman, and cf. Romanic, Romaunt, Romansch, Romanza.]
1. A species of fictitious writing, originally composed in meter in the Romance dialects, and afterward in prose, such as the tales of the court of Arthur, and of Amadis of Gaul; hence, any fictitious and wonderful tale; a sort of novel, especially one which treats of surprising adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale of extravagant adventures, of love, and the like. "Romances that been royal." Chaucer.
"Upon these three columns — chivalry, gallantry, and religion — repose the fictions of the Middle Ages, especially those known as romances. These, such as we now know them, and such as display the characteristics above mentioned, were originally metrical, and chiefly written by nations of the north of France." Hallam.
2. An adventure, or series of extraordinary events, resembling those narrated in romances; as his courtship, or his life, was a romance.
3. A dreamy, imaginative habit of mind; a disposition to ignore what is real; as a girl full of romance.
4. The languages, or rather the several dialects, which were originally forms of popular or vulgar Latin, and have now developed into Italian. Spanish, French, etc. (called the Romanic languages).
5. (Mus.) A short lyric tale set to music; a song or short instrumental piece in ballad style; a romanza.
Syn. — Fable; novel; fiction; tale.
Romance
Ro•mance´, a. Of or pertaining to the language or dialects known as Romance.
Romance
Ro•mance´, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Romanced p. pr. & vb. n. Romancing ] To write or tell romances; to indulge in extravagant stories.
"A very brave officer, but apt to romance." Walpole.
Romanic
Ro•man´ic, a. [L. Romanicus. See Romance, n. ]
1. Of or pertaining to Rome or its people.
2. Of or pertaining to any or all of the various languages which, during the Middle Ages, sprung out of the old Roman, or popular form of Latin, as the Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Provencal, etc.
3. Related to the Roman people by descent; — said especially of races and nations speaking any of the Romanic tongues. Romanic spelling, spelling by means of the letters of the Roman alphabet, as in English; — contrasted with phonetic spelling.
Romanism
Ro´man•ism, n. The tenets of the Church of Rome; the Roman Catholic religion.
Romanize
Ro´man•ize, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Romanized p. pr. & vb. n. Romanizing ]
1. To Latinize; to fill with Latin words or idioms. [R.] Dryden.
2. To convert to the Roman Catholic religion.
Romansch
Ro•mansch´, n. [Grisons rumansch, rumonsch, romonsch. See Romance.] The language of the Grisons in Switzerland, a corruption of the Latin. [Written also Romansch, and Rumonsch.]
Romantic
Ro•man´tic, a. [F. romantique, fr. OF. romant. See Romance.]
1. Of or pertaining to romance; involving or resembling romance; hence, fanciful; marvelous; extravagant; unreal; as a romantic tale; a romantic notion; a romantic undertaking.
"Can anything in nature be imagined more profane and impious, more absurd, and undeed romantic, than such a persuasion?" South.
"Zeal for the good of one’s country a party of men have represented as chimerical and romantic." Addison.
2. Entertaining ideas and expectations suited to a romance; as a romantic person; a romantic mind.
3. Of or pertaining to the style of the Christian and popular literature of the Middle Ages, as opposed to the classical antique; of the nature of, or appropriate to, that style; as the romantic school of poets.
4. Characterized by strangeness or variety; suggestive of adventure; suited to romance; wild; picturesque; — applied to scenery; as a romantic landscape.
Syn. — Sentimental; fanciful; fantastic; fictitious; extravagant; wild; chimerical. See Sentimental. The romantic drama. See under Drama.
Romanticist
Ro•man´ti•cist, n. One who advocates romanticism in modern literature. J. R. Seeley.
Romaunt
Ro•maunt´, n. [See Romance.] A romantic story in verse; as the "Romaunt of the Rose."
"O, hearken, loving hearts and bold,
Unto my wild romaunt." Mrs. Browning.
Romekin
Rome´kin, n. [CF. Rummer.] A drinking cup. [Written also romkin.] [Obs.] Halliwell. { Rome" pen•ny, or Rome" scot• }. See Peter pence, under Peter.
Romeward
Rome´ward, adv. Toward Rome, or toward the Roman Catholic Church.
Romp, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Romped p. pr. & vb. n. Romping.] [A variant of ramp. See Ramp to leap, Rampallian.] To play rudely and boisterously; to leap and frisk about in play.
Rompish
Romp´ish, a. Given to rude play; inclined to romp. —- Romp´ish, adv. — Romp´ish•ness, n.
Rompu
Rom´pu, a. [F. rompu, p. p. of rompre to breeak, L. rumpere. See Rupture.] (Her.) Broken, as an ordinary; cut off, or broken at the top, as a chevron, a bend, or the like.
Ronco
Ron´co, n. [Sp. ronco hoarse.] (Zoöl.) See Croaker, n. , 2. (a). [Texas]
Rondache
Ron•dache´, n. [F.] (Anc. Armor.) A circular shield carried by foot soldiers.
Rondeau
Ron•deau´, n. [F. See Roundel.] [Written also rondo.]
1. A species of lyric poetry so composed as to contain a refrain or repetition which recurs according to a fixed law, and a limited number of rhymes recurring also by rule. When the rondeau was called the rondel it was mostly written in fourteen octosyllabic lines of two rhymes, as in the rondels of Charles d’Orleans… . In the 17th century the approved form of the rondeau was a structure of thirteen verses with a refrain. Encyc. Brit.
2. (Mus.) See Rondo, 1.
Rondel
Ron´del, n. [Cf. Rondeau, Roundel.]
1. (Fort.) A small round tower erected at the foot of a bastion. [Obs.]
2. [F.] (a) Same as Rondeau. (b) Specifically, a particular form of rondeau containing fourteen lines in two rhymes, the refrain being a repetition of the first and second lines as the seventh and eighth, and again as the thirteenth and fourteenth. E. W. Gosse.
Rondle
Ron´dle, n. [Cf. Rondel.]
1. A rondeau. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. A round mass, plate, or disk; especially (Metal.), the crust or scale which forms upon the surface of molten metal in the crucible.
Rondo
Ron´do, n. [It. rondò, fr. F. rondeau. See Rondeau.]
1. (Mus.) A composition, vocal or instrumental, commonly of a lively, cheerful character, in which the first strain recurs after each of the other strains. "The Rondo-form was the earliest and most frequent definite mold for musical construction." Grove.
2. (Poetry) See Rondeau, 1.
Rong, obs. imp. & p. p. of Ring. Chaucer.
Ronne
Ron´ne, obs. imp. pl., and Ron´nen, obs. p. p. of Renne, to run. Chaucer.
Ront, n. [See Runt.] A runt. [Obs.] Spenser.
Rood (rood), n. [AS. rod a cross; akin to OS. roda, D. roede rod, G. ruthe, rute, OHG. ruota. Cf. Rod a measure.]
1. A representation in sculpture or in painting of the cross with Christ hanging on it. Generally, the Trinity is represented, the Father as an elderly man fully clothed, with a nimbus around his head, and holding the cross on which the Son is represented as crucified, the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove near the Son’s head. Figures of the Virgin Mary and of St. John are often placed near the principal figures.
"Savior, in thine image seen
Bleeding on that precious rood." Wordsworth.
2. A measure of five and a half yards in length; a rod; a perch; a pole. [Prov. Eng.]
3. The fourth part of an acre, or forty square rods. By the rood, by the cross; — a phrase formerly used in swearing. "No, by the rood, not so." Shak. — Rood beam (Arch.), a beam across the chancel of a church, supporting the rood. — Rood loft (Arch.), a loft or gallery, in a church, on which the rood and its appendages were set up to view. Gwilt. — Rood screen (Arch.), a screen, between the choir and the body of the church, over which the rood was placed. Fairholt. — Rood tower (Arch.), a tower at the intersection of the nave and transept of a church; — when crowned with a spire it was called also rood steeple. Weale. — Rood tree, the cross. [Obs.] "Died upon the rood tree." Gower.
Roodebok
Roo´de•bok, n. [D. rood red + bok buck.] (Zoöl.) The pallah.
Roof, n. [OE. rof, AS. hrf top, roof; akin to D. roef cabin, Icel. hrf a shed under which ships are built or kept; cf. OS. hrst roof, Goth. hrt. Cf. Roost.]
1. (Arch.) The cover of any building, including the roofing (see Roofing) and all the materials and construction necessary to carry and maintain the same upon the walls or other uprights. In the case of a building with vaulted ceilings protected by an outer roof, some writers call the vault the roof, and the outer protection the roof mask. It is better, however, to consider the vault as the ceiling only, in cases where it has farther covering.
2. That which resembles, or corresponds to, the covering or the ceiling of a house; as the roof of a cavern; the roof of the mouth.
"The flowery roof
Showered roses, which the morn repaired." Milton.
3. (Mining.) The surface or bed of rock immediately overlying a bed of coal or a flat vein. Bell roof, French roof, etc. (Arch.) See under Bell, French, etc. — Flat roof. (Arch.) (a) A roof actually horizontal and level, as in some Oriental buildings. (b) A roof nearly horizontal, constructed of such material as allows the water to run off freely from a very slight inclination. — Roof plate. (Arch.) See Plate, n. , 10.
Roof, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Roofed p. pr. & vb. n. Roofing.]
1. To cover with a roof.
"I have not seen the remains of any Roman buildings that have not been roofed with vaults or arches." Addison.
2. To inclose in a house; figuratively, to shelter.
"Here had we now our country’s honor roofed." Shak.
Rook (rook), n. Mist; fog. See Roke. [Obs.]
Rook, v. i. To squat; to ruck. [Obs.] Shak.
Rook, n. [F. roc (cf. Sp. roque), fr. Per. & Ar. rokh, or rukh, the rook or castle at chess, also the bird roc (in this sense perhaps a different word); cf. Hind. rath a war chariot, the castle at chess, Skr. ratha a car, a war car. Cf. Roll.] (Chess) One of the four pieces placed on the corner squares of the board; a castle.
Rook, v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Rooked p. pr. & vb. n. Rooking.] To cheat; to defraud by cheating. "A band of rooking officials." Milton.
Rooky
Rook´y (-y), a. [See Roky.] Misty; gloomy. [Obs.]
"Light thickens, and the crow
Makes wing to the rooky wood." Shak. Some make this Shakespearean word mean "abounding in rooks."
Room (room), n. [OE. roum, rum, space, AS. rum; akin to OS., OFries. & Icel. rum, D. ruim, G. raum, OHG. rum, Sw. & Dan. rum, Goth. rums, and to AS. rum, adj., spacious, D. ruim, Icel. rumr, Goth. rums; and prob. to L. rus country (cf. Rural), Zend ravanh wide, free, open, ravan a plain.]
1. Unobstructed spase; space which may be occupied by or devoted to any object; compass; extent of place, great or small; as there is not room for a house; the table takes up too much room.
"Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room." Luke xiv. 22.
"There was no room for them in the inn." Luke ii. 7.
2. A particular portion of space appropriated for occupancy; a place to sit, stand, or lie; a seat.
"If he have but twelve pence in his purse, he will give it for the best room in a playhouse." Overbury.
"When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room." Luke xiv. 8.
3. Especially, space in a building or ship inclosed or set apart by a partition; an apartment or chamber.
"I found the prince in the next room." Shak.
4. Place or position in society; office; rank; post; station; also a place or station once belonging to, or occupied by, another, and vacated. [Obs.]
"When he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod." Matt. ii. 22.
"Neither that I look for a higher room in heaven." Tyndale.
"Let Bianca take her sister’s room." Shak.
5. Possibility of admission; ability to admit; opportunity to act; fit occasion; as to leave room for hope.
"There was no prince in the empire who had room for such an alliance." Addison. Room and space (Shipbuilding), the distance from one side of a rib to the corresponding side of the next rib; space being the distance between two ribs, in the clear, and room the width of a rib. — To give room, to withdraw; to leave or provide space unoccupied for others to pass or to be seated. — To make room, to open a space, way, or passage; to remove obstructions; to give room.
"Make room, and let him stand before our face." Shak.
Syn. — Space; compass; scope; latitude.
Room, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Roomed p. pr. & vb. n. Rooming.] To occupy a room or rooms; to lodge; as they arranged to room together.
Room, a. [AS. rum.] Spacious; roomy. [Obs.]
"No roomer harbour in the place." Chaucer.
Roomage
Room´age, n. [From Room. CF. Rummage.] Space; place; room. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
Roomer
Room´er, n. A lodger. [Colloq.]
Roomer
Room´er, adv. [See Room, a. ] At a greater distance; farther off. [Obs.] Sir J. Harrington.
Roomful
Room´ful, a. Abounding with room or rooms; roomy. "A roomful house." [R.] Donne.
Roomy
Room´y, a. Having ample room; spacious; large; as a roomy mansion; a roomy deck. Dryden.
Roon, a. & n. Vermilion red; red. [R.]
"Her face was like the lily roon." J. R. Drake.
Roop, n. See Roup. [Prov. Eng.] { Roor´back, Roor´bach }, n. A defamatory forgery or falsehood published for purposes of political intrigue. [U.S.] The word originated in the election canvass of 1844, when such a forgery was published, to the detriment of James K. Polk, a candidate for President, purporting to be an extract from the "Travels of Baron Roorbach."
Roosa oil
Roo"sa oil The East Indian name for grass oil. See under Grass.
Roost, n. Roast. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Roost, v. t. See Roust, v. t.
Roost, n. [AS. hrost; akin to OD. roest roost, roesten to roost, and probably to E. roof. Cf. Roof.]
1. The pole or other support on which fowls rest at night; a perch.
"He clapped his wings upon his roost." Dryden.
2. A collection of fowls roosting together. At roost, on a perch or roost; hence, retired to rest.
Roost, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Roosted; p. pr. & vb. n. Roosting.]
1. To sit, rest, or sleep, as fowls on a pole, limb of a tree, etc.; to perch. Wordsworth.
2. Fig.; To lodge; to rest; to sleep.
"O, let me where thy roof my soul hath hid,
O, let me roost and nestle there." Herbert.
Roostcock
Roost´cock, n. The male of the domestic fowl; a cock. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Root, v. t. To turn up or to dig out with the snout; as the swine roots the earth.
Root, n. [Icel. rot (for vrot); akin to E. wort, and perhaps to root to turn up the earth. See Wort.]
1. (Bot.) (a) The underground portion of a plant, whether a true root or a tuber, a bulb or rootstock, as in the potato, the onion, or the sweet flag. (b) The descending, and commonly branching, axis of a plant, increasing in length by growth at its extremity only, not divided into joints, leafless and without buds, and having for its offices to fix the plant in the earth, to supply it with moisture and soluble matters, and sometimes to serve as a reservoir of nutriment for future growth. A true root, however, may never reach the ground, but may be attached to a wall, etc., as in the ivy, or may hang loosely in the air, as in some epiphytic orchids.
2. An edible or esculent root, especially of such plants as produce a single root, as the beet, carrot, etc.; as the root crop.
3. That which resembles a root in position or function, esp. as a source of nourishment or support; that from which anything proceeds as if by growth or development; as the root of a tooth, a nail, a cancer, and the like. Specifically: (a) An ancestor or progenitor; and hence, an early race; a stem.
"They were the roots out of which sprang two distinct people." Locke. (b) A primitive form of speech; one of the earliest terms employed in language; a word from which other words are formed; a radix, or radical. (c) The cause or occasion by which anything is brought about; the source. "She herself … is root of bounty." Chaucer.
"The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." 1 Tim. vi. 10 (rev. Ver.) (d) (Math.) That factor of a quantity which when multiplied into itself will produce that quantity; thus, 3 is a root of 9, because 3 multiplied into itself produces 9; 3 is the cube root of 27. (e) (Mus.) The fundamental tone of any chord; the tone from whose harmonics, or overtones, a chord is composed. Busby. (f) The lowest place, position, or part. "Deep to the roots of hell." Milton. "The roots of the mountains." Southey.
4. (Astrol.) The time which to reckon in making calculations.
"When a root is of a birth yknowe [known]." Chaucer. Aërial roots. (Bot.) (a) Small roots emitted from the stem of a plant in the open air, which, attaching themselves to the bark of trees, etc., serve to support the plant. (b) Large roots growing from the stem, etc., which descend and establish themselves in the soil. See Illust. of Mangrove. — Multiple primary root (Bot.), a name given to the numerous roots emitted from the radicle in many plants, as the squash. — Primary root (Bot.), the central, first-formed, main root, from which the rootlets are given off. — Root and branch, every part; wholly; completely; as to destroy an error root and branch. — Root-and-branch men, radical reformers; — a designation applied to the English Independents (1641). See Citation under Radical, n. , 2. — Root barnacle (Zoöl.), one of the Rhizocephala. — Root hair (Bot.), one of the slender, hairlike fibers found on the surface of fresh roots. They are prolongations of the superficial cells of the root into minute tubes. Gray. — Root leaf (Bot.), a radical leaf. See Radical, a. , 3 (b). — Root louse (Zoöl.), any plant louse, or aphid, which lives on the roots of plants, as the Phylloxera of the grapevine. See Phylloxera. — Root of an equation (Alg.), that value which, substituted for the unknown quantity in an equation, satisfies the equation. — Root of a nail (Anat.), the part of a nail which is covered by the skin. — Root of a tooth (Anat.), the part of a tooth contained in the socket and consisting of one or more fangs. — Secondary roots (Bot.), roots emitted from any part of the plant above the radicle. — To strike root, To take root, to send forth roots; to become fixed in the earth, etc., by a root; hence, in general, to become planted, fixed, or established; to increase and spread; as an opinion takes root. "The bended twigs take root." Milton.
Root (root), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rooted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rooting.]
1. To fix the root; to enter the earth, as roots; to take root and begin to grow.
"In deep grounds the weeds root deeper." Mortimer.
2. To be firmly fixed; to be established.
"If any irregularity chanced to intervene and to cause misappehensions, he gave them not leave to root and fasten by concealment." Bp. Fell.
Root, v. i. [Cf. Rout to roar.] To shout for, or otherwise noisly applaud or encourage, a contestant, as in sports; hence, to wish earnestly for the success of some one or the happening of some event, with the superstitious notion that this action may have efficacy; — usually with for; as the crowd rooted for the home team. [Slang or Cant, U. S.]
Rooter, n. One who, or that which, roots; one that tears up by the roots.
Rooter
Root´er, n. One who roots, or applauds. [Slang, U. S.]
Rope, n. [AS. rap; akin to D. reep, G. reif ring hoop, Icel. reip rope, Sw. rep, Dan. reb, reeb Goth. skauda raip latchet.]
1. A large, stout cord, usually one not less than an inch in circumference, made of strands twisted or braided together. It differs from cord, line, and string, only in its size. See Cordage.
2. A row or string consisting of a number of things united, as by braiding, twining, etc.; as a rope of onions.
3. pl. The small intestines; as the ropes of birds. Rope ladder, a ladder made of ropes. — Rope mat., a mat made of cordage, or strands of old rope. — Rope of sand, something of no cohession or fiber; a feeble union or tie; something not to be relied upon. — Rope pump, a pump in which a rapidly running endless rope raises water by the momentum communicated to the water by its adhesion to the rope. — Rope transmission (Mach.), a method of transmitting power, as between distant places, by means of endless ropes running over grooved pulleys. — Rope’s end, a piece of rope; especially, one used as a lash in inflicting punishment. — To give one rope, to give one liberty or license; to let one go at will uncheked.
Rope, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Roped p. pr. & vb. n. Roping.] To be formed into rope; to draw out or extend into a filament or thread, as by means of any glutinous or adhesive quality.
"Let us not hang like ropingicicles
Upon our houses’ thatch." Shak.
Ropewalk
Rope´walk, a. A long, covered walk, or a low, level building, where ropes are manufactured.
Rope-yarn
Rope´-yarn, n. the yarn or thread of any stuff of which the strands of a rope are made.
Ropily
Rop´i•ly, adv. In a ropy manner; in a viscous or glutinous manner.
Roque (rok), n. [Abbr. fr. Croquet.] A form of croquet modified for greater accuracy of play. The court has a wood border often faced with rubber, used as a cushion in bank shots. The balls are 3¼ in. in diameter, the cage (center arches or wickets) 3⅜ in. wide, the other arches 3½ in. wide. { Roque•fort" cheese, or Roque•fort´ }, n. A highly flavored blue-molded cheese, made at Roquefort, department of Aveyron, France. It is made from milk of ewes, sometimes with cow’s milk added, and is cured in caves. Improperly, a cheese made in imitation of it.
Roquet
Ro•quet´, v. t. [Etymol. uncertain] (Croquet) To hit, as another’s ball, with one’s own ball.
Roration
Ro•ra´tion, n. [L. roratio, fr. rorare to drop dew, fr. ros dew.] A falling of dew. [R.]
Rorid
Ro´rid, a. [L. roridus, fr. ros, roris, dew.] Dewy; bedewed. [R.] T. Granger.
Rory
Ro´ry, a. [L. ros, roris, dew.] Dewy. [R.]
"And shook his wings with rory May-dew wet." Fairfax.
Rosacic
Ro•sac´ic, a. [See Rosaceous.] (Old med. Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid (called also lithic acid) found in certain red precipitates of urine. See Uric. [Obs.]
Rosary
Ro´sa•ry, n. ; pl. Rosaries (#). [LL. rosarium a string of beads, L. rosarium a place planted with roses, rosa a rose: cf. F. rosaire. See Rose.]
1. A bed of roses, or place where roses grow. "Thick rosaries of scented thorn." Tennyson.
2. (R.C.Ch.) A series of prayers (see Note below) arranged to be recited in order, on beads; also a string of beads by which the prayers are counted.
"His idolized book, and the whole rosary of his prayers." Milton. A rosary consists of fifteen decades. Each decade contains ten Ave Marias marked by small beads, preceded by a Paternoster, marked by a larger bead, and concluded by a Gloria Patri. Five decades make a chaplet, a third part of the rosary. Bp. Fitzpatrick.
3. A chapelet; a garland; a series or collection, as of beautiful thoughts or of literary selections.
"Every day propound to yourself a rosary or chaplet of good works to present to God at night." Jer. Taylor.
4. A coin bearing the figure of a rose, fraudulently circulated in Ireland in the 13th century for a penny. Rosary shell (Zoöl.), any marine gastropod shell of the genus Monodonta. They are top-shaped, bright-colored and pearly.
Rose, n. [AS. rose, L. rosa, probably akin to Gr., Armor. vard, OPer. vareda; and perhaps to E. wort: cf. F. rose, from the Latin. Cf. Copperas, Rhododendron.]
1. A flower and shrub of any species of the genus Rosa, of which there are many species, mostly found in the morthern hemispere Roses are shrubs with pinnate leaves and usually prickly stems. The flowers are large, and in the wild state have five petals of a color varying from deep pink to white, or sometimes yellow. By cultivation and hybridizing the number of petals is greatly increased and the natural perfume enhanced. In this way many distinct classes of roses have been formed, as the Banksia, Baurbon, Boursalt, China, Noisette, hybrid perpetual, etc., with multitudes of varieties in nearly every class.
2. A knot of ribbon formed like a rose; a rose knot; a rosette, esp. one worn on a shoe. Sha.
3. (Arch.) A rose window. See Rose window, below.
4. A perforated nozzle, as of a pipe, spout, etc., for delivering water in fine jets; a rosehead; also a strainer at the foot of a pump.
5. (Med.) The erysipelas. Dunglison.
6. The card of the mariner’s compass; also a circular card with radiating lines, used in other instruments.
7. The color of a rose; rose-red; pink.
8. A diamond. See Rose diamond, below. Cabbage rose, China rose, etc. See under Cabbage, China, etc. — Corn rose (Bot.) See Corn poppy, under Corn. — Infantile rose (Med.), a variety of roseola. — Jamaica rose. (Bot.) See under Jamaica. — Rose acacia (Bot.), a low American leguminous shrub ( Robinia hispida) with handsome clusters of rose-colored blossoms. — Rose aniline. (Chem.) Same as Rosaniline. — Rose apple (Bot.), the fruit of the tropical myrtaceous tree Eugenia Jambos. It is an edible berry an inch or more in diameter, and is said to have a very strong roselike perfume. — Rose beetle. (Zoöl.) (a) A small yellowish or buff longlegged beetle ( Macrodactylus subspinosus), which eats the leaves of various plants, and is often very injurious to rosebushes, apple trees, grapevines, etc. Called also rose bug, and rose chafer. (b) The European chafer. — Rose bug. (Zoöl.) same as Rose beetle, Rose chafer. — Rose burner, a kind of gas-burner producing a rose-shaped flame. — Rose camphor (Chem.), a solid odorless substance which separates from rose oil. — Rose campion. (Bot.) See under Campion. — Rose catarrh (Med.), rose cold. — Rose chafer. (Zoöl.) (a) A common European beetle ( Cetonia aurata) which is often very injurious to rosebushes; — called also rose beetle, and rose fly. (b) The rose beetle (a). — Rose cold (Med.), a variety of hay fever, sometimes attributed to the inhalation of the effluvia of roses. See Hay fever, under Hay. — Rose color, the color of a rose; pink; hence, a beautiful hue or appearance; fancied beauty, attractiveness, or promise. — Rose de Pompadour, Rose du Barry, names succesively given to a delicate rose color used on Sèvres porcelain. — Rose diamond, a diamond, one side of which is flat, and the other cut into twenty-four triangular facets in two ranges which form a convex face pointed at the top. Cf. Brilliant, n. — Rose ear. See under Ear. — Rose elder (Bot.), the Guelder-rose. — Rose engine, a machine, or an appendage to a turning lathe, by which a surface or wood, metal, etc., is engraved with a variety of curved lines. Craig. — Rose family (Bot.) the Roseceae. See Rosaceous. — Rose fever (Med.), rose cold. — Rose fly (Zoöl.), a rose betle, or rose chafer. — Rose gall (Zoöl.), any gall found on rosebushes. See Bedeguar. — Rose knot, a ribbon, or other pliade band plaited so as to resemble a rose; a rosette. — Rose lake, Rose madder, a rich tint prepared from lac and madder precipitated on an earthy basis. Fairholt. — Rose mallow. (Bot.) (a) A name of several malvaceous plants of the genus Hibiscus, with large rose-colored flowers. (b) the hollyhock. — Rose nail, a nail with a convex, faceted head. — Rose noble, an ancient English gold coin, stamped with the figure of a rose, first struck in the reign of Edward III., and current at 6s. 8d. Sir W. Scott. — Rose of China. (Bot.) See China rose (b), under China. — Rose of Jericho (Bot.), a Syrian cruciferous plant ( Anastatica Hierochuntica) which rolls up when dry, and expands again when moistened; — called also resurrection plant. - - Rose of Sharon (Bot.), an ornamental malvaceous shrub ( Hibiscus Syriacus). In the Bible the name is used for some flower not yet identified, perhaps a Narcissus, or possibly the great lotus flower. — Rose oil (Chem.), the yellow essential oil extracted from various species of rose blossoms, and forming the chief part of attar of roses. — Rose pink, a pigment of a rose color, made by dyeing chalk or whiting with a decoction of Brazil wood and alum; also the color of the pigment. — Rose quartz (Min.), a variety of quartz which is rose- red. — Rose rash. (Med.) Same as Roseola. — Rose slug (Zoöl.), the small green larva of a black sawfly ( Selandria rosae). These larvae feed in groups on the parenchyma of the leaves of rosebushes, and are often abundant and very destructive. — Rose window (Arch.), a circular window filled with ornamental tracery. Called also Catherine wheel, and marigold window. Cf. wheel window, under Wheel. — Summer rose (Med.), a variety of roseola. See Roseola. — Under the rose [a translation of L. sub rosa], in secret; privately; in a manner that forbids disclosure; — the rose being among the ancients the symbol of secrecy, and hung up at entertainments as a token that nothing there said was to be divulged. — Wars of the Roses (Eng. Hist.), feuds between the Houses of York and Lancaster, the white rose being the badge of the House of York, and the red rose of the House of Lancaster.
Rose water
Rose" wa•ter Water tinctured with roses by distillation.
Roseate
Ro´se•ate, a. [Cf. L. roseus, rosatus, prepared from roses. See Roseal, Rose.]
1. Full of roses; rosy; as roseate bowers.
2. resembling a rose in color or fragrance; esp., tinged with rose color; blooming; as roseate beauty; her roseate lips. Roseate tern (Zoöl.), an American and European tern ( Sterna Dougalli) whose breast is roseate in the breeding season.
Rosebud
Rose´bud, n. The flower of a rose before it opens, or when but partially open.
Rose-cut
Rose´-cut, a. Cut flat on the reverse, and with a convex face formed of triangular facets in rows; - - said of diamonds and other precious stones. See Rose diamond, under Rose. Cf. Brilliant, n.
Rosehead
Rose´head, n.
1. See Rose, n. , 4.
2. A many-sided pyramidal head upon a nail; also a nail with such a head.
Rosemary
Rose´ma•ry, n. [OE. rosmarine, L. rosmarinus; ros dew (cf. Russ. rosa, Lith. rasa, Skr. rasa juice) + marinus marine: cf. F. romarin. In English the word has been changed as if it meant the rose of Mary. See Marine.] A labiate shrub ( Rosmarinus officinalis) with narrow grayish leaves, growing native in the southern part of France, Spain, and Italy, also in Asia Minor and in China. It has a fragrant smell, and a warm, pungent, bitterish taste. It is used in cookery, perfumery, etc., and is an emblem of fidelity or constancy.
"There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance." Shak. Marsh rosemary. (a) A little shrub (Andromeda polifolia) growing in cold swamps and having leaves like those of the rosemary. (b) See under Marsh. — Rosemary pine, the loblolly pine. See under Loblolly.
Roseo-
Ro´se•o- (Chem.) A prefix (also used adjectively) signifying rose-red; specifically used to designate certain rose-red compounds (called roseo-cobaltic compounds) of cobalt with ammonia. Cf. Luteo-.
Rose-pink
Rose´-pink, a.
1. Having a pink color like that of the rose, or like the pigment called rose pink. See Rose pink, under Rose.
2. Disposed to clothe everything with roseate hues; hence, sentimental. "Rose-pink piety." C. Kingsley.
Rose-red
Rose´-red, a. Red as a rose; specifically (Zoöl.), of a pure purplish red color. Chaucer.
Rose-rial
Rose´-ri•al, n. [See Rose, and Royal.] A name of several English gold coins struck in different reigns and having having different values; a rose noble.
Rosery
Ros´er•y, n. A place where roses are cultivated; a nursery of roses. See Rosary, 1.
Roset
Ro´set, n. [F. rosette. See Rosette.] A red color used by painters. Peacham.
Rosette
Ro•sette, n. [F., dim. of rose a rose. Cf. Roset.]
1. An imitation of a rose by means of ribbon or other material, — used as an ornament or a badge.
2. (Arch.) An ornament in the form of a rose or roundel, -much used in decoration.
3. A red color. See Roset.
4. A rose burner. See under Rose.
5. (Zoöl.) (a) Any structure having a flowerlike form; especially, the group of five broad ambulacra on the upper side of the spatangoid and clypeastroid sea urchins. See Illust. of Spicule, and Sand dollar, under Sand. (b) A flowerlike color marking; as the rosettes on the leopard.
Rosewort
Rose´wort, n. (Bot.) (a) Roseroot. (b) Any plant nearly related to the rose. Lindley.
Rosicrucian
Ros•i•cru´cian, a. Of or pertaining to the Rosicrucians, or their arts.
Rosied
Ros´ied, a. Decorated with roses, or with the color of roses.
Rosier
Ro´sier, n. [F., fr. L. rosarius of roses. Cf. Rosary.] A rosebush; roses, collectively. [Obs.]
"Crowned with a garland of sweet rosier." Spenser.
Rosinweed
Ros´in•weed, n. (Bot.) (a) The compass plant. See under Compass. (b) A name given in California to various composite plants which secrete resins or have a resinous smell.
Rosmarine
Ros´ma•rine, n. [OE. See Rosemary.]
1. Dew from the sea; sea dew. [Obs.]
"That purer brine
And wholesome dew called rosmarine." B. Jonson.
2. Rosemary. [Obs.] Spenser. "Biting on anise seed and rosmarine." Bp. Hall.
Ross, v. t. To divest of the ross, or rough, scaly surface; as to ross bark. [Local, U.S.]
Rossel
Ros´sel, n. Light land; rosland. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Mortimer.
Rost, n. See Roust. [Scot.] Jamieson.
Rostel
Ros´tel, n. [L. rostellum, dim. of rostrum a beak: cf. F. rostelle.] same as Rostellum.
Rostelliform
Ros•tel´li•form, a. Having the form of a rostellum, or small beak.
Rostellum
Ros•tel´lum, n. ; pl. Rostella (#). [L. See Rostel.] A small beaklike process or extension of some part; a small rostrum; as the rostellum of the stigma of violets, or of the operculum of many mosses; the rostellum on the head of a tapeworm.
Rostral
Ros´tral, a. [L. rostralis, fr. rostrum a beak; cf. F. rostral.] Of or pertaining to the beak or snout of an animal, or the beak of a ship; resembling a rostrum, esp., the rostra at Rome, or their decorations.
"[Monuments] adorned with rostral crowns and naval ornaments." Addison. { Ros´trate, Ros´tra•ted }, a. [L. rostratus, fr. rostrum a beak. See Rostrum.]
1. Having a process resembling the beak of a bird; beaked; rostellate.
2. Furnished or adorned with beaks; as rostrated galleys.
Rostrum
Ros´trum (-trum), n. ; pl. L. Rostra (#), E. Rostrums (#). [L., beak, ship’s beak, fr. rodere, rosum, to gnaw. See Rodent.]
1. The beak or head of a ship.
2. pl. (Rostra) (Rom. Antiq.) The Beaks; the stage or platform in the forum where orations, pleadings, funeral harangues, etc., were delivered; — so called because after the Latin war, it was adorned with the beaks of captured vessels; later, applied also to other platforms erected in Rome for the use of public orators.
3. Hence, a stage for public speaking; the pulpit or platform occupied by an orator or public speaker.
"Myself will mount the rostrum in his favor." Addison.
4. (Zoöl.) (a) Any beaklike prolongation, esp. of the head of an animal, as the beak of birds. (b) The beak, or sucking mouth parts, of Hemiptera. (c) The snout of a gastropod mollusk. See Illust. of Littorina. (d) The anterior, often spinelike, prolongation of the carapace of a crustacean, as in the lobster and the prawn.
5. (Bot.) Same as Rostellum.
6. (Old Chem.) The pipe to convey the distilling liquor into its receiver in the common alembic. Quincy.
7. (Surg.) A pair of forceps of various kinds, having a beaklike form. [Obs.] Coxe.
Rosy
Ros´y, a. [ Compar. Rosier superl. Rosiest.] Resembling a rose in color, form, or qualities; blooming; red; blushing; also adorned with roses.
"A smile that glowed
Celestial rosy-red, love’s proper hue." Milton.
"While blooming youth and gay delight
Sit thy rosy cheeks confessed." Prior. Rosy is sometimes used in the formation of selfxplaining compounde; as rosy-bosomed, rosy- colored, rosy-crowned, rosy-fingered, rosy- tinted. Rosy cross. See the Note under Rosicrucian, n.
Rot, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rotting.] [OE. rotien, AS. rotian; akin to D. rotten, Prov. G. rotten, OHG. rozzn, G. rösten to steep flax, Icel. rotna to rot, Sw. ruttna, Dan. raadne, Icel. rottin rotten. rad.117. Cf. Ret, Rotten.]
1. To undergo a process common to organic substances by which they lose the cohesion of their parts and pass through certain chemical changes, giving off usually in some stages of the process more or less offensive odors; to become decomposed by a natural process; to putrefy; to decay.
"Fixed like a plant on his peculiar spot,
To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot." Pope.
2. Figuratively: To perish slowly; to decay; to die; to become corrupt.
"Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons." Macaulay.
"Rot, poor bachelor, in your club." Thackeray.
Syn. — To putrefy; corrupt; decay; spoil.
Rot, n.
1. Process of rotting; decay; putrefaction.
2. (Bot.) A disease or decay in fruits, leaves, or wood, supposed to be caused by minute fungi. See Bitter rot, Black rot, etc., below.
3. [Cf. G. rotz glanders.] A fatal distemper which attacks sheep and sometimes other animals. It is due to the presence of a parasitic worm in the liver or gall bladder. See 1st Fluke, 2.
"His cattle must of rot and murrain die." Milton. Bitter rot (Bot.), a disease of apples, caused by the fungus Glaeosporium fructigenum. F. L. Scribner. — Black rot (Bot.), a disease of grapevines, attacking the leaves and fruit, caused by the fungus Laestadia Bidwellii. F. L. Scribner. — Dry rot (Bot.) See under Dry. — Grinder’s rot (Med.) See under Grinder. — Potato rot. (Bot.) See under Potato. — White rot (Bot.), a disease of grapes, first appearing in whitish pustules on the fruit, caused by the fungus Coniothyrium diplodiella. F. L. Scribner.
Rota
Ro´ta, n. [L. rota wheel. The name is said to allude to the design of the floor of the room in which the court used to sit, which was that of a wheel. See Rotary.]
1. An ecclesiastical court of Rome, called also Rota Romana, that takes cognizance of suits by appeal. It consists of twelve members.
2. (Eng. Hist.) A short-lived political club established in 1659 by J.Harrington to inculcate the democratic doctrine of election of the principal officers of the state by ballot, and the annual retirement of a portion of Parliament.
Rotal
Ro´tal, a. Relating to wheels or to rotary motion; rotary. [R.]
Rotalite
Ro´ta•lite, n. [L. rota wheel + -lite.] (Paleon.) Any fossil foraminifer of the genus Rotalia, abundant in the chalk formation. See Illust. under Rhizopod.
Rotary
Ro´ta•ry, a. [L. rota a wheel. See Roll, v. , and cf. barouche, Rodomontade, Roue, Round, a. , Rowel.] Turning, as a wheel on its axis; pertaining to, or resembling, the motion of a wheel on its axis; rotatory; as rotary motion. Rotary engine, steam engine in which the continuous rotation of the shaft is produced by the direct action of the steam upon rotating devices which serve as pistons, instead of being derived from a reciprocating motion, as in the ordinary engine; a steam turbine; — called also rotatory engine. — Rotary pump, a pump in which the fluid is impelled by rotating devices which take the place of reciprocating buckets or pistons. — Rotary shears, shears, as for cloth, metal, etc., in which revolving sharp-edged or sharp-cornered wheels do the cutting. — Rotary valve, a valve acting by continuous or partial rotation, as in the four-way cock.
Rotascope
Ro´ta•scope, n. [L. rota a wheel + -scope.] Same as Gyroscope, 1.
Rotate
Ro´tate, a. [L. rotatus, p. p. of rotare to turn round like a wheel, fr. rota wheel. See Rotary, and cf. Roue.] Having the parts spreading out like a wheel; wheel-shaped; as a rotate spicule or scale; a rotate corolla, i.e., a monopetalous corolla with a flattish border, and no tube or a very short one.
Rotate
Ro´tate, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rotated p. pr. & vb. n. Rotating.]
1. To turn, as a wheel, round an axis; to revolve.
2. To perform any act, function, or operation in turn, to hold office in turn; as to rotate in office.
Rotated
Ro´ta•ted, a. Turned round, as a wheel; also wheel-shaped; rotate.
Rotation
Ro•ta´tion, n. [L. rotatio: cf. F. rotation.]
1. The act of turning, as a wheel or a solid body on its axis, as distinguished from the progressive motion of a revolving round another body or a distant point; thus, the daily turning of the earth on its axis is a rotation; its annual motion round the sun is a revolution.
2. Any return or succesion in a series. Moment of rotation. See Moment of inertia, under Moment. — Rotation in office, the practice of changing public officers at frequent intervals by discharges and substitutions. — Rotation of crops, the practices of cultivating an orderly succession of different crops on the same land.
Rotatoria
Ro•ta•to´ri•a, n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) Same as Rotifera.
Rotatory
Ro´ta•to•ry, a. [Cf. F. rotatoire. See Rotate, Rotary.]
1. Turning as on an axis; rotary.
2. Going in a circle; following in rotation or succession; as rotatory assembles. Burke.
3. (Opt.) Producing rotation of the plane of polarization; as the rotatory power of bodies on light. See the Note under polarization. Nichol.
Rotchet
Rotch´et, n. (Zoöl.) The European red gurnard ( Trigla pini).
Rote, n. A root. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Rote, n. [OE. rote, probably of German origin; cf. MHG. rotte, OHG. rota, hrota, LL. chrotta. Cf. Crowd a kind of violin.] (Mus.) A kind of guitar, the notes of which were produced by a small wheel or wheel-like arrangement; an instrument similar to the hurdy-gurdy.
"Well could he sing and play on a rote." Chaucer.
"extracting mistuned dirges from their harps, crowds, and rotes." Sir W. Scott.
Rote, n. [Cf. Rut roaring.] The noise produced by the surf of the sea dashing upon the shore. See Rut.
Rote, n. [OF. rote, F. route, road, path. See Route, and cf. Rut a furrow, Routine.] A frequent repetition of forms of speech without attention to the meaning; mere repetition; as to learn rules by rote. Swift.
"till he the first verse could [ i. e., knew] all by rote." Chaucer.
"Thy love did read by rote, and could not spell." Shak.
Rote, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Roted; p. pr. & vb. n. Roting.] To learn or repeat by rote. [Obs.] Shak.
Rote, v. i. To go out by rotation or succession; to rotate. [Obs.] Z. Grey.
Rother
Roth´er, n. [OE. See Rudder.] A rudder. Rother nail, a nail with a very full head, used for fastening the rudder irons of ships; — so called by shipwrights.
Rotifer
Ro´ti•fer ( 277), n. [NL. see Rotifera.] (Zoöl.) One of the Rotifera. See Illust. in Appendix.
Rotiform
Ro´ti•form, a. [L. rota wheel + -form.]
1. Wheel-shaped; as rotiform appendages.
2. (Bot.) Same as Rotate.
Rotor
Ro´tor, n. (Elec.) The rotating part of a generator or motor.
Rotten
Rot´ten, a. [Icel. rotinn; akin to Sw. rutten, Dan. radden. See Rot.] Having rotted; putrid; decayed; as a rotten apple; rotten meat. Hence: (a) Offensive to the smell; fetid; disgusting.
"You common cry of curs! whose breath I hate
As reek of the rotten fens." Shak. (b) Not firm or trusty; unsound; defective; treacherous; unsafe; as a rotten plank, bone, stone. "The deepness of the rotten way." Knolles. Rotten borough. See under Borough. — Rotten stone (Min.), a soft stone, called also Tripoli (from the country from which it was formerly brought), used in all sorts of finer grinding and polishing in the arts, and for cleaning metallic substances. The name is also given to other friable siliceous stones applied to like uses.
Syn. — Putrefied; decayed; carious; defective; unsound; corrupt; deceitful; treacherous. — Rot´ten•ly, adv. — Rot´ten•ness, n.
Rotula
Rot´u•la, n. [L., a little wheel; cf. It. rotula.] (Anat.) The patella, or kneepan.
Rotund
Ro•tund´, a. [L. rotundus. See Round, and cf. Rotunda.]
1. Round; circular; spherical.
2. Hence, complete; entire.
3. (Bot.) Orbicular, or nearly so. Gray.
Rotunda
Ro•tun´da, n. [Cf. It. rotonda, F. rotonde; both fr. L. rotundus round. See Rotund, a. ] (Arch.) A round building; especially, one that is round both on the outside and inside, like the Pantheon at Rome. Less properly, but very commonly, used for a large round room; as the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington.
Rotundate
Ro•tund´ate, a. Rounded; especially, rounded at the end or ends, or at the corners.
Roty
Rot´y, v. t. [See Rot.] To make rotten. [Obs.]
"Well bet is rotten apple out of hoard,
Than that it roty all the remenant." Chaucer.
Roue
Rou•e´, n. [F., properly p. p. of rouer to break upon the wheel, fr. roue a wheel, L. rota. See Rotate, Rotary.] One devoted to a life of sensual pleasure; a debauchee; a rake.
Rouge, a. [F., fr. L. rubeus red, akin to rubere to be red, ruber red. See Red.] red. [R.] Rouge et noir [F., red and black], a game at cards in which persons play against the owner of the bank; — so called because the table around which the players sit has certain compartments colored red and black, upon which the stakes are deposited. Hoyle.
Rouge, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Rouged p. pr. & vb. n. Rouging .] To paint the face or cheeks with rouge.
Rouge, v. t. To tint with rouge; as to rouge the face or the cheeks.
Rough, a. [ Compar. Rougher superl. Roughest.] [OE. rou, rou, row, rugh, ruh, AS. rh; akin to LG. rug, D. rug, D. ruig, ruw, OHG. rh, G. rauh, rauch; cf. Lith. raukas wrinkle, rukti to wrinkle. rad. 18. Cf. Rug, n. ]
1. Having inequalities, small ridges, or points, on the surface; not smooth or plain; as a rough board; a rough stone; rough cloth. Specifically: (a) Not level; having a broken surface; uneven; — said of a piece of land, or of a road. "Rough, uneven ways." Shak. (b) Not polished; uncut; — said of a gem; as a rough diamond. (c) Tossed in waves; boisterous; high; — said of a sea or other piece of water.
"More unequal than the roughest sea." T. Burnet. (d) Marked by coarseness; shaggy; ragged; disordered; — said of dress, appearance, or the like; as a rough coat. "A visage rough." Dryden. "Roughsatyrs." Milton.
2. Hence, figuratively, lacking refinement, gentleness, or polish. Specifically: (a) Not courteous or kind; harsh; rude; uncivil; as a rough temper.
"A fiend, a fury, pitiless and rough." Shak.
"A surly boatman, rough as wayes or winds." Prior. (b) Marked by severity or violence; harsh; hard; as rough measures or actions.
"On the rough edge of battle." Milton.
"A quicker and rougher remedy." Clarendon.
"Kind words prevent a good deal of that perverseness which rough and imperious usage often produces." Locke. (c) Loud and hoarse; offensive to the ear; harsh; grating; — said of sound, voice, and the like; as a rough tone; rough numbers. Pope. (d) Austere; harsh to the taste; as rough wine. (e) Tempestuous; boisterous; stormy; as rough weather; a rough day.
"He stayeth his rough wind." Isa. xxvii. 8.
"Time and the hour runs through the roughest day." Shak. (f) Hastily or carelessly done; wanting finish; incomplete; as a rough estimate; a rough draught. Rough diamond, an uncut diamond; hence, colloquially, a person of intrinsic worth under a rude exterior. — Rough and ready. (a) Acting with offhand promptness and efficiency. "The rough and ready understanding." Lowell. (b) Produced offhand. "Some rough and ready theory." Tylor.
Roughdraw
Rough´draw, v. t. To draw or delineate rapidly and by way of a first sketch.
Roughdry
Rough´dry, v. t. in laundry work, to dry without smoothing or ironing.
Roughen
Rough´en, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Roughened p. pr. & vb. n. Roughening.] [From Rough.] To make rough.
Rough-footed
Rough´-foot•ed, a. (Zoöl.) Feather-footed; as a rough-footed dove. [R.] Sherwood.
Rough-legged
Rough´-legged, a. (Zoöl.) Having the legs covered with feathers; — said of a bird. rough-legged hawk. (Zoöl.) See Roughleg.
Roughly
Rough´ly, adv. In a rough manner; unevenly; harshly; rudely; severely; austerely.
Roughness
Rough´ness, n. The quality or state of being rough.
Roughsetter
Rough´set•ter, n. A mason who builds rough stonework.
Rought, obs. imp. of Reck, to care. Chaucer.
Roughwrought
Rough´wrought, a. Wrought in a rough, unfinished way; worked over coarsely.
Rouk, v. i. See 5th Ruck, and Roke. [Obs.]
Rouleau
Rou•leau´, n. ; pl. F. Rouleaux (F. ; E. ), E. Rouleaus (#). [F., a roll, dim. fr. fr. rôle, formerly also spelt roulle. See Roll.] A little roll; a roll of coins put up in paper, or something resembling such a roll.
Roulette
Rou•lette´, n. [F., properly, a little wheel or ball. See Rouleau, Roll.]
1. A game of chance, in which a small ball is made to move round rapidly on a circle divided off into numbered red and black spaces, the one on which it stops indicating the result of a variety of wagers permitted by the game.
2. (Fine Arts) (a) A small toothed wheel used by engravers to roll over a plate in order to order to produce rows of dots. (b) A similar wheel used to roughen the surface of a plate, as in making alterations in a mezzotint.
3. (Geom.) the curve traced by any point in the plane of a given curve when the latter rolls, without sliding, over another fixed curve. See Cycloid, and Epycycloid.
Rouly-pouly
Rou´ly-pou•ly, n. See Rolly- pooly. { Roun, Rown }, v. i. & t. [AS. rnian, fr. rn a rune, secret, mystery; akin to G. raunen to whisper. See Rune.] To whisper. [obs.] Gower.
"Another rouned to his fellow low." Chaucer.
Rounceval
Roun´ce•val, n. A giant; anything large; a kind of pea called also marrowfat. [Obs.]
Round, v. i. & t. [From Roun.] To whisper. [obs.] Shak. Holland.
"The Bishop of Glasgow rounding in his ear, "Ye are not a wise man," … he rounded likewise to the bishop, and said, "Wherefore brought ye me here?"" Calderwood.
Round, a. [OF. roond, roont, reond, F. rond, fr. L. rotundus, fr. rota wheel. See Rotary, and cf. Rotund, roundel, Rundlet.]
1. Having every portion of the surface or of the circumference equally distant from the center; spherical; circular; having a form approaching a spherical or a circular shape; orbicular; globular; as a round ball. "The big, round tears." Shak.
"Upon the firm opacous globe
Of this round world." Milton.
2. Having the form of a cylinder; cylindrical; as the barrel of a musket is round.
3. Having a curved outline or form; especially, one like the arc of a circle or an ellipse, or a portion of the surface of a sphere; rotund; bulging; protuberant; not angular or pointed; as a round arch; round hills. "Their round haunches gored." Shak.
4. Full; complete; not broken; not fractional; approximately in even units, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.; — said of numbers.
"Pliny put a round number near the truth, rather than the fraction." Arbuthnot.
5. Not inconsiderable; large; hence, generous; free; as a round price.
"Three thousand ducats; ’tis a good round sum." Shak.
"Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon." Tennyson.
6. Uttered or emitted with a full tone; as a round voice; a round note.
7. (Phonetics) Modified, as a vowel, by contraction of the lip opening, making the opening more or less round in shape; rounded; labialized; labial. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 11.
8. Outspoken; plain and direct; unreserved; unqualified; not mincing; as a round answer; a round oath. "The round assertion." M. Arnold.
"Sir Toby, I must be round with you." Shak.
9. Full and smoothly expanded; not defective or abrupt; finished; polished; — said of style, or of authors with reference to their style. [Obs.]
"In his satires Horace is quick, round, and pleasant." Peacham.
10. Complete and consistent; fair; just; — applied to conduct.
"Round dealing is the honor of man’s nature." Bacon. At a round rate, rapidly. Dryden. — In round numbers, approximately in even units, tens, hundreds, etc.; as a bin holding 99 or 101 bushels may be said to hold in round numbers 100 bushels. — Round bodies (Geom.), the sphere right cone, and right cylinder. — Round clam (Zoöl.), the quahog. — Round dance one which is danced by couples with a whirling or revolving motion, as the waltz, polka, etc. — Round game, a game, as of cards, in which each plays on his own account. — Round hand, a style of penmanship in which the letters are formed in nearly an upright position, and each separately distinct; — distinguished from running hand. — Round robin. [Perhaps F. round round + ruban ribbon.] (a) A written petition, memorial, remonstrance, protest, etc., the signatures to which are made in a circle so as not to indicate who signed first. "No round robins signed by the whole main deck of the Academy or the Porch." De Quincey. (b) (Zoöl.) The cigar fish. — Round shot, a solid spherical projectile for ordnance. — Round Table, the table about which sat King Arthur and his knights. See Knights of the Round Table, under Knight. — Round tower, one of certain lofty circular stone towers, tapering from the base upward, and usually having a conical cap or roof, which crowns the summit, — found chiefly in Ireland. They are of great antiquity, and vary in heigh from thirty-five to one hundred and thiry feet. — Round trot, one in which the horse throws out his feet roundly; a full, brisk, quick trot. Addison. — Round turn (Naut.), one turn of a rope round a timber, a belaying pin, etc. — To bring up with a round turn, to stop abruptly. [Colloq.]
Syn. — Circular; spherical; globular; globase; orbicular; orbed; cylindrical; full; plump; rotund.
Round, n.
1. Anything round, as a circle, a globe, a ring. "The golden round" [the crown]. Shak.
"In labyrinth of many a round self- rolled." Milton.
2. A series of changes or events ending where it began; a series of like events recurring in continuance; a cycle; a periodical revolution; as the round of the seasons; a round of pleasures.
3. A course of action or conduct performed by a number of persons in turn, or one after another, as if seated in a circle.
"Women to cards may be compared: we play
A round or two; which used, we throw away." Granville.
"The feast was served; the bowl was crowned;
To the king’s pleasure went the mirthful round." Prior.
4. A series of duties or tasks which must be performed in turn, and then repeated.
"the trivial round, the common task." Keble.
5. A circular dance.
"Come, knit hands, and beat the ground,
In a light fantastic round." Milton.
6. That which goes round a whole circle or company; as a round of applause.
7. Rotation, as in office; succession. Holyday.
8. The step of a ladder; a rundle or rung; also a crosspiece which joins and braces the legs of a chair.
"All the rounds like Jacob’s ladder rise." Dryden.
9. A course ending where it began; a circuit; a beat; especially, one freguently or regulary traversed; also the act of traversing a circuit; as a watchman’s round; the rounds of the postman.
10. (Mil.) (a) A walk performed by a guard or an officer round the rampart of a garrison, or among sentinels, to see that the sentinels are faithful and all things safe; also the guard or officer, with his attendants, who performs this duty; — usually in the plural. (b) A general discharge of firearms by a body of troops in which each soldier fires once. (c) Ammunition for discharging a piece or pieces once; as twenty rounds of ammunition were given out.
11. (Mus.) A short vocal piece, resembling a catch in which three or four voices follow each other round in a species of canon in the unison.
12. The time during which prize fighters or boxers are in actual contest without an intermission, as prescribed by their rules; a bout.
13. A brewer’s vessel in which the fermentation is concluded, the yeast escaping through the bunghole.
14. A vessel filled, as for drinking. [R.]
15. An assembly; a group; a circle; as a round of politicians. Addison.
16. (Naut.) See Roundtop.
17. Same as Round of beef, below. Gentlemen of the round. (a) Gentlemen soldiers of low rank who made the rounds. See 10 (a), above. (b) Disbanded soldiers who lived by begging. [Obs.]
"Worm-eaten gentlemen of the round, such as have vowed to sit on the skirts of the city, let your provost and his half dozen of halberdiers do what they can." B. Jonson. — Round of beef, the part of the thigh below the aitchbone, or between the rump and the leg. See Illust. of beef. — Round steak, a beefsteak cut from the round. — Sculpture in the round, sculpture giving the full form, as of man; statuary, distinguished from relief.
Round, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Rounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Rounding.]
1. To make circular, spherical, or cylindrical; to give a round or convex figure to; as to round a silver coin; to round the edges of anything.
"Worms with many feet, which round themselves into balls, are bred chiefly under logs of timber." Bacon.
"The figures on our modern medals are raised and rounded to a very great perfection." Addison.
2. To surround; to encircle; to encompass.
"The inclusive verge
Of golden metal that must round my brow." Shak.
3. To bring to fullness or completeness; to complete; hence, to bring to a fit conclusion.
"We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep." Shak.
4. To go round wholly or in part; to go about (a corner or point); as to round a corner; to round Cape Horn.
5. To make full, smooth, and flowing; as to round periods in writing. Swift. To round in (Naut.) To haul up; usually, to haul the slack of (a rope) through its leading block, or to haul up (a tackle which hangs loose) by its fall. Totten. (b) To collect together (cattle) by riding around them, as on cattle ranches. [Western U.S.]
Roundaboutness
Round´a•bout•ness, n. The quality of being roundabout; circuitousness.
Round-backed
Round´-backed, a. Having a round back or shoulders; round-shouldered.
Roundel
Roun´del, n. [OF. rondel a roundelay, F. rondel, rondeau, a dim. fr. rond; for sense 2, cf. F. rondelle a round, a round shield. See Round, a. , and cf. Rondel, Rondelay.]
1. (Mus.) A rondelay. "Sung all the roundel lustily." Chaucer.
"Come, now a roundel and a fairy song." Shak.
2. Anything having a round form; a round figure; a circle.
"The Spaniards, casting themselves into roundels, … made a flying march to Calais." Bacon. Specifically: (a) A small circular shield, sometimes not more than a foot in diameter, used by soldiers in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. (b) (Her.) A circular spot; a sharge in the form of a small circle. (c) (Fort.) A bastion of a circular form.
Roundelay
Round´e•lay, n. [OF. rondelet, dim. of rondel. See Roundel, Roundeau, and cf. Roundlet, Rundlet.]
1. (Poetry) See Rondeau, and Rondel.
2. (Mus.) (a) A tune in which a simple strain is often repeated; a simple rural strain which is short and lively. Spenser. Tennyson. (b) A dance in a circle.
3. Anything having a round form; a roundel.
Rounding
Round´ing, a. Round or nearly round; becoming round; roundish.
Roundish
Round´ish, a. Somewhat round; as a roundish seed; a roundish figure. — Round´ish•ness, n.
Roundridge
Round´ridge, v. t. (Agric.) To form into round ridges by plowing. B. Edwards.
Round-shouldered
Round´-shoul•dered, a. Having the shoulders stooping or projecting; round-backed.
Roundure
Roun´dure ( 135), n. [Cf. Rondure.] Roundness; a round or circle. [Obs.] Shak.
Roup, v. i. & t. [Cf. AS. hrpan to cry out, G. rufen, Goth. hrpian. Cf. Roop.] To cry or shout; hence, to sell by auction. [Scot.] Jamieson.
Roup, n.
1. An outcry; hence, a sale of gods by auction. [Scot.] Jamieson.
"To roup, that is, the sale of his crops, was over." J. C. Shairp.
2. A disease in poultry. See Pip.
Rouse (rouz), n. [Cf. D. roes drunkeness, icel. rss, Sw. rus, G. rauchen, and also E. rouse, v.t., rush, v.i. Cf. Row a disturbance.]
1. A bumper in honor of a toast or health. [Obs.] Shak.
2. A carousal; a festival; a drinking frolic.
"Fill the cup, and fill the can,
Have a rouse before the morn." Tennyson.
Rouse, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Roused (rouzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Rousing.] [Probably of Scan. origin; cf. Sw. rusa to rush, Dan. ruse, AS. hreósan to fall, rush. Cf. Rush, v. ]
1. To cause to start from a covert or lurking place; as to rouse a deer or other animal of the chase.
"Like wild boars late roused out of the brakes." Spenser.
"Rouse the fleet hart, and cheer the opening hound." Pope.
2. To wake from sleep or repose; as to rouse one early or suddenly.
3. To excite to lively thought or action from a state of idleness, languor, stupidity, or indifference; as to rouse the faculties, passions, or emotions.
"To rouse up a people, the most phlegmatic of any in Christendom." Atterbury.
4. To put in motion; to stir up; to agitate.
"Blustering winds, which all night long
Had roused the sea." Milton.
5. To raise; to make erect. [Obs.] Spenser. Shak.
Roussette
Rous•sette´, n. [F.; — so called in allusion to the color. See Russet.]
1. (Zoöl.) A fruit bat, especially the large species ( Pieropus vulgaris) inhabiting the islands of the Indian ocean. It measures about a yard across the expanded wings.
2. (Zoöl.) Any small shark of the genus Scyllium; — called also dogfish. See Dogfish.
Roust (roust), v. t. To rouse; to disturb; as to roust one out. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U.S.]
Rout, v. i. To search or root in the ground, as a swine. Edwards.
Rout, n. [OF. route, LL. rupta, properly, a breaking, fr. L. ruptus, p. p. of rumpere to break. See Rupture, reave, and cf. Rote repetition of forms, Route. In some senses this word has been confused with rout a bellowing, an uproar.] [Formerly spelled also route.]
1. A troop; a throng; a company; an assembly; especially, a traveling company or throng. [Obs.] "A route of ratones [rats]." Piers Plowman. "A great solemn route." Chaucer.
"And ever he rode the hinderest of the route." Chaucer.
"A rout of people there assembled were." Spenser.
2. A disorderly and tumultuous crowd; a mob; hence, the rabble; the herd of common people.
"the endless routs of wretched thralls." Spenser.
"The ringleader and head of all this rout." Shak.
"Nor do I name of men the common rout." Milton.
3. The state of being disorganized and thrown into confusion; — said especially of an army defeated, broken in pieces, and put to flight in disorder or panic; also the act of defeating and breaking up an army; as the rout of the enemy was complete.
"thy army …
Dispersed in rout, betook them all to fly." Daniel.
"To these giad conquest, murderous rout to those." pope.
4. (Law) A disturbance of the peace by persons assembled together with intent to do a thing which, if executed, would make them rioters, and actually making a motion toward the executing thereof. Wharton.
5. A fashionable assembly, or large evening party. "At routs and dances." Landor. To put to rout, to defeat and throw into confusion; to overthrow and put to flight.
Rout, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Routed; p. pr. & vb. n. Routing.] To break the ranks of, as troops, and put them to flight in disorder; to put to rout.
"That party … that charged the Scots, so totally routed and defeated their whole army, that they fied." Clarendon.
Syn. — To defeat; discomfit; overpower; overthrow.
Route (root or rout; 277), n. [OE. & F. route, OF. rote, fr. L. rupta (sc. via), fr. ruptus, p. p. of rumpere to break; hence, literally, a broken or beaten way or path. See Rout, and cf. Rut a track.] The course or way which is traveled or passed, or is to be passed; a passing; a course; a road or path; a march.
"Wide through the furzy field their route they take." Gay.
Routinary
Rou´ti•na•ry, a. Involving, or pertaining to, routine; ordinary; customary. [R.] Emerson.
Routine
Rou•tine´, n. [F., fr. route a path, way, road. See Route, Roterepetition.]
1. A round of business, amusement, or pleasure, daily or frequently pursued; especially, a course of business or offical duties regularly or frequently returning.
2. Any regular course of action or procedure rigidly adhered to by the mere force of habit.
Routinism
Rou•tin´´ism, n. the practice of doing things with undiscriminating, mechanical regularity.
Routously
Rout´ous•ly, adv. (Law) With that violation of law called a rout. See 5th Rout, 4.
Rove, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Roved p. pr. & vb. n. Roving.] [Cf. D. rooven to rob; akin to E. reave. See Reave, Rob.]
1. To practice robbery on the seas; to wander about on the seas in piracy. [Obs.] Hakluyt.
2. Hence, to wander; to ramble; to rauge; to go, move, or pass without certain direction in any manner, by sailing, walking, riding, flying, or otherwise.
"For who has power to walk has power to rove." Arbuthnot.
3. (Archery) To shoot at rovers; hence, to shoot at an angle of elevation, not at point-blank (rovers usually being beyond the point-blank range).
"Fair Venus’ son, that with thy cruel dart
At that good knight so cunningly didst rove." Spenser.
Syn. — To wander; roam; range; ramble stroll.
Rover
Rov´er, n. [D. roover a robber. See Rove, v. i.]
1. One who practices robbery on the seas; a pirate.
"Yet Pompey the Great deserveth honor more justly for scouring the seas and taking from the rovers 846 sail of ships." Holland.
2. One who wanders about by sea or land; a wanderer; a rambler.
3. Hence, a fickle, inconstant person.
4. (Croquet) A ball which has passed through all the hoops and would go out if it hit the stake but is continued in play; also the player of such a ball.
5. (Archery) (a) Casual marks at uncertain distances. Encyc. Brit. (b) A sort of arrow. [Obs.]
"All sorts, flights, rovers, and butt shafts." B. Jonson.At rovers, at casual marks; hence, at random; as shooting at rovers. See def. 5 (a) above. Addison.
"Bound down on every side with many bands because it shall not run at rovers." Robynson (More’s Utopia).
Roving
Rov´ing, n.
1. The operatin of forming the rove, or slightly twisted sliver or roll of wool or cotton, by means of a machine for the purpose, called a roving frame, or roving machine.
2. A roll or sliver of wool or cotton drawn out and slightly twisted; a rove. See 2d Rove, 2. Roving frame, Roving machine, a machine for drawing and twisting roves and twisting roves and winding them on bobbin for the spinning machine.
Row, a. & adv. [See Rough.] Rough; stern; angry. [Obs.] "Lock he never so row." Chaucer.
Row, n. [Abbrev. fr. rouse, n.] A noisy, turbulent quarrel or disturbance; a brawl. [Colloq.] Byron.
Row, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Rowed p. pr. & vb. n. Rowing.] [AS. rwan; akin to D. roeijen, MHG. rüejen, Dan. roe, Sw. ro, Icel. ra, L. remus oar, Gr., Skr. aritra. rad.8. Cf. Rudder.]
1. To propel with oars, as a boat or vessel, along the surface of water; as to row a boat.
2. To transport in a boat propelled with oars; as to row the captain ashore in his barge.
Row, v. i.
1. To use the oar; as to row well.
2. To be moved by oars; as the boat rows easily.
Rowan
Row´an, n. Rowan tree. Rowan barry, a barry of the rowan tree.
Rowboat
Row´boat, n. A boat designed to be propelled by oars instead of sails.
Rowdy
Row´dy, n. ; pl. Rowdies (#). [From Rout, or Row a brawl.] One who engages in rows, or noisy quarrels; a ruffianly fellow. M. Arnold.
Rowdyish
Row´dy•ish, a. Resembling a rowdy in temper or conduct; characteristic of a rowdy.
Rowed, a. Formed into a row, or rows; having a row, or rows; as a twelve- rowed ear of corn.
Rowel
Row´el, n. [OF. roele, rouele, properly, a little wheel, F. rouelle collop, slice, LL. rotella a little wheel, dim. of L. rota a wheel. See Roll, and cf. Rota.]
1. The little wheel of a spur, with sharp points.
"With sounding whip, and rowels dyed in blood." Cowper.
2. A little flat ring or wheel on horses’ bits.
"The iron rowels into frothy foam he bit." Spenser.
3. (Far.) A roll of hair, silk, etc., passed through the flesh of horses, answering to a seton in human surgery.
Rowel
Row´el, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Roweled or Rowelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Roweling or Rowelling.] (Far.) To insert a rowel, or roll of hair or silk, into (as the flesh of a horse). Mortimer.
Rowel bone
Row"el bone See rewel bone. [Obs.]
Rowlock
Row´lock (? colloq. ), n. [For oarlock; AS. rloc, where the second part is skin to G. loch a hole, E. lock a fastening. See Oar, and Lock.] (Naut.) A contrivance or arrangement serving as a fulcrum for an oar in rowing. It consists sometimes of a notch in the gunwale of a boat, sometimes of a pair of pins between which the oar rests on the edge of the gunwale, sometimes of a single pin passing through the oar, or of a metal fork or stirrup pivoted in the gunwale and suporting the oar.
Rown, v. i. & t. see Roun. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Royal
Roy´al, a. [OE. roial, riall, real, OF. roial. reial, F. royal, fr. L. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. See Rich, and cf. regal, real a coin, Rial.]
1. Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state.
2. Noble; generous; magnificent; princely.
"How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio?" Shak.
3. Under the patronage of royality; holding a charter granted by the sovereign; as the Royal Academy of Arts; the Royal Society. Battle royal. See under Battle. - - Royal bay (Bot.), the classic laurel ( Laurus nobilis.) — Royal eagle. (Zoöl.) See Golden eagle, under Golden. — Royal fern (Bot.), the handsome fern Osmunda regalis. See Osmund. — Royal mast (Naut.), the mast next above the topgallant mast and usually the highest on a square-rigged vessel. The royal yard and royal sail are attached to the royal mast. — Royal metal, an old name for gold. — Royal palm (Bot.), a magnificent West Indian palm tree ( Oreodoxa regia), lately discovered also in Florida. — Royal pheasant. See Curassow. — Royal purple, an intense violet color, verging toward blue. — Royal tern (Zoöl.), a large, crested American tern ( Sterna maxima). — Royal tiger. (Zoöl.) See Tiger. — Royal touch, the touching of a diseased person by the hand of a king, with the view of restoring to health; — formerly extensively practiced, particularly for the scrofula, or king’s evil.
Syn. — Kingly; regal; monarchical; imperial; kinglike; princely; august; majestic; superb; splendid; illustrious; noble; magnanimous.
Royal
Roy´al, n.
1. Printing and writing papers of particular sizes. See under paper, n.
2. (Naut.) A small sail immediately above the topgallant sail. Totten.
3. (Zoöl.) One of the upper or distal branches of an antler, as the third and fourth tynes of the antlers of a stag.
4. (Gun.) A small mortar.
5. (Mil.) One of the soldiers of the first regiment of foot of the British army, formerly called the Royals, and supposed to be the oldest regular corps in Europe; — now called the Royal Scots.
6. An old English coin. See Rial.
Royalism
Roy´al•ism, n. [Cf. F. royalisme.] the principles or conduct of royalists.
Royalization
Roy•al•i•za´tion, n. The act of making loyal to a king. [R.] Saintsbury.
Royalty
Roy´al•ty, n. ; pl. Royalties (#). [OF. roialte, royaulte, F. royaute. See Royal, and cf. Regality.]
1. The state of being royal; the condition or quality of a royal person; kingship; kingly office; sovereignty.
"Royalty by birth was the sweetest way of majesty." Holyday.
2. The person of a king or sovereign; majesty; as in the presence of royalty.
"For thus his royalty doth speak." Shak.
3. An emblem of royalty; — usually in the plural, meaning regalia. [Obs.]
"Wherefore do I assume
These royalties, and not refuse to reign?" Milton.
4. Kingliness; spirit of regal authority.
"In his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear’d." Shak.
5. Domain; province; sphere. Sir W. Scott.
6. That which is due to a sovereign, as a seigniorage on gold and silver coined at the mint, metals taken from mines, etc.; the tax exacted in lieu of such share; imperiality.
7. A share of the product or profit (as of a mine, forest, etc.), reserved by the owner for permitting another to use the property.
8. Hence (Com.), a duty paid by a manufacturer to the owner of a patent or a copyright at a certain rate for each article manufactured; or, a percentage paid to the owner of an article by one who hires the use of it.
Royne (roin), v. t. [F. rogner, OF. rooignier, to clip, pare, scare, fr. L. rotundus round See Rotund.] To bite; to gnaw. [Written also roin.] [Obs.] Spenser.
Roynish
Royn´ish, a. [F. rogneux, from rogne scab, mange, itch.] Mangy; scabby; hence, mean; paltry; troublesome. [Written also roinish.] [Obs.] "The roynish clown." Shak. { Roys´ter, Roys´ter•er }, n. same as Roister, Roisterer.
Royston crow
Roys"ton crow [So called from Royston, a town in England.] (Zoöl.) See Hooded crow, under Hooded.
Roytelet
Roy´te•let, n. [F. roitelet, dim. of roi king.] A little king. [Archaic] Heylin. Bancroft.