ROCK Rock, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rocked;p. pr. & vb. n. Rocking.] Etym: [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.
Note: 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.
ROCKRock, v. i.
1. To move or be moved backward and forward; to be violently agitated; to reel; to totter. The rocking town Supplants their footsteps. J. Philips .
2. To roll or saway backward and forward upon a support; as, to rock in a rocking-chair.
ROCKAWAYRock"a*way, Etym: [Probably from Rockaway beach, where it was used.]
Defn: 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.
ROCKELAY; ROCKLAYRock"e*lay, Rock"lay, n.
Defn: See Rokelay. [Scot.]
ROCKERRock"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.)
Defn: Same as Rock shaft. Rocker arm (Mach.), an arm borne by a rock shaft. To be off one's rocker, to be insane.
ROCKEREDRock"ered, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Shaped like a rocker; curved; as, a rockered keel.
ROCKERYRock"er*y, n. (Gardening)
Defn: A mound formed of fragments of rock, earth, etc., and set with plants.
ROCKET Rock"et, n. Etym: [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. Etym: [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.
ROCKETRock"et, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rocketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rocketing.](Sporting)
Defn: 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.
ROCKETERRock"et*er, n. (Sporting)
Defn: A bird, especially a pheasant, which, being flushed, rises straight in the air like a rocket. [Eng.]
ROCKFISH Rock"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several California scorpænoid 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.
Note: The term is locally applied to various other fishes.
ROCKINESSRock"i*ness, n. Etym: [From Rocky.]
Defn: The state or quality of being rocky.
ROCKINGRock"ing, a.
Defn: Having a swaying, rolling, or back-and-forth movement; used for rocking. Rocking shaft. (Mach.) See Rock shaft.
ROCKING-CHAIRRock"ing-chair`, n.
Defn: A chair mounted on rockers, in which one may rock.
ROCKING-HORSERock"ing-horse`, n.
Defn: The figure of a horse, mounted upon rockers, for children to ride.
ROCKING-STONERock"ing-stone`, n.
Defn: A stone, often of great size and weight, resting upon another stone, and so exactly poised that it can be rocked, or slightly moved, with but little force.
ROCKLESSRock"less, a.
Defn: Being without rocks. Dryden.
ROCKLINGRock"ling, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of small marine fishes of the genera Onos and Rhinonemus (formerly Motella), allied to the cod. They have three or four barbels.
ROCKROSERock"rose`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to any species of the genus Helianthemum, low shrubs or herbs with yellow flowers, especially the European H. vulgare and the American frostweed, H. Canadense. Cretan rockrose, a related shrub (Cistus Creticus), one of the plants yielding the fragrant gum called ladanum.
ROCK SHAFTRock" shaft`. Etym: [Cf. Rock, v. i.] (Mach.)
Defn: 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 STAFFRock" staff`. Etym: [Cf. Rock, v. i.]
Defn: An oscillating bar in a machine, as the lever of the bellows of a forge.
ROCKSUCKERRock"suck`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lamprey.
ROCKWEEDRock"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any coarse seaweed growing on sea-washed rocks, especiallyFucus.
ROCKWOODRock"wood`, n. (Min.)
Defn: Ligniform asbestus; also, fossil wood.
ROCKWORKRock"work`, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: Stonework in which the surface is left broken and rough.
2. (Gardening)
Defn: A rockery.
ROCKYRock"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.
ROCOARo"coa, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rocou, roicou, Pg. & Braz, urucú.]
Defn: The orange-colored pulp covering the seeds of the tropical plant Bixa Orellana, from which annotto is prepared. See Annoto.
ROCOCORo*co"co, n. Etym: [F.; of uncertain etymology.]
Defn: A florid style of ornamentation which prevailed in Europe in the latter part of the eighteenth century.
ROCOCORo*co"co, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the style called rococo; like rococo; florid; fantastic.
RODRod, n. Etym: [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.
RODDYRod"dy, a.
Defn: Full of rods or twigs.
RODDYRod"dy, a.
Defn: Ruddy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
RODERode, n. Etym: [See Rud.]
Defn: Redness; complexion. [Obs.] "His rode was red." Chaucer.
RODERode,
Defn: imp. of Ride.
RODERode, n.
Defn: See Rood, the cross. [Obs.] Chaucer.
RODENTRo"dent, a. Etym: [L. rodens, -entis, p. pr. of rodere to gnaw. SeeRase, 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.
RODENTRo"dent, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Rodentia.
RODENTIARo*den"ti*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Rodent, a.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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.
RODEORo*de"o, n. Etym: [SP., a going round.]
Defn: A round-up. See Round-up. [Western U.S.]
RODGERodge, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The gadwall. [Prov.Eng.]
RODOMELRod"o*mel, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Juice of roses mixed with honey. Simmonds.
RODOMONT Rod"o*mont, n. Etym: [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.]
Defn: A vain or blustering boaster; a braggart; a braggadocio. Sir T.Herbert.
RODOMONTRod"o*mont, a.
Defn: Bragging; vainly boasting.
RODOMONTADERod`o*mon*tade", n. Etym: [F., fr. It. rodomontana. See Rodomont, n.]
Defn: Vain boasting; empty bluster or vaunting; rant. I could show that the rodomontades of Almanzor are neither so irrational nor impossible. Dryden.
RODOMONTADERod`o*mon*tade", v. i.
Defn: To boast; to brag; to bluster; to rant.
RODOMONTADISTRod`o*mon*tad"ist, n.
Defn: One who boasts.
RODOMONTADORod`o*mon*ta"do, n.
Defn: Rodomontade.
RODOMONTADORRod`o*mon*ta"dor, n.
Defn: A rodomontadist.
RODSMANRods"man, n.; pl. Rodsmen (.
Defn: One who carries and holds a leveling staff, or rod, in a surveying party. G. W. Cable.
RODYRo"dy, a.
Defn: Ruddy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ROE Roe, n. Etym: [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.
ROERoe, n. Etym: [For roan, OE. rowne, akin to G. rogen, OHG. rogan,Icel. hrogn, Dan. rogn, ravn, Sw. rom; of uncertain origin; cf. Gr.gravel.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ova or spawn of fishes and amphibians, especially when still inclosed in the ovarian membranes. Sometimes applied, loosely, to the sperm and the testes of the male.
2. A mottled appearance of light and shade in wood, especially in mahogany.
ROEBUCKRoe"buck`, n. Etym: [1st roe + buck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European and Asiatic deer (Capreolus capræa) having erect, cylindrical, branched antlers, forked at the summit. This, the smallest European deer, is very nimble and graceful. It always prefers a mountainous country, or high grounds.
ROEDRoed, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Filled with roe.
ROEDEERRoe"deer`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The roebuck.
ROE, RICHARDRoe, Richard. (Law)
Defn: A fictious name for a party, real or fictious, to an act or proceeding. Other names were formerly similarly used, as John-a- Nokes, John o', or of the, Nokes, or Noakes, John-a-Stiles, etc.
ROESTONERoe"stone`, n. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Oölite.
ROGATION Ro*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. rogatio, fr. rogare, rogatum, to ask, beg, supplicate: cf. F. rogation. Cf. Abrogate, Arrogant, Probogue.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: The demand, by the consuls or tribunes, of a law to be passed by the people; a proposed law or decree.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: Litany; supplication.He perfecteth the rogations or litanies before in use. Hooker.Rogation days (Eccl.), the three days which immediately precedeAscension 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 (Polygalavulgaris); — so called from its former use for garlands in Rogationweek. Dr. Prior.— Rogation week, the second week before Whitsunday, in which theRogation days occur.
ROGATORYRog"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [See Rogation.]
Defn: Seeking information; authorized to examine witnesses or ascertain facts; as, a rogatory commission. Woolsey.
ROGERRog"er, n. [From a proper name Roger.]
Defn: A black flag with white skull and crossbones, formerly used by pirates; — called also Jolly Roger.
ROGUE Rogue, n. Etym: [F. rogue proud, haughty, supercilious; cf. Icel. hr a rook, croaker (cf. Rook a bird), or Armor. rok, rog, proud, arogant.]
1. (Eng.Law)
Defn: A vagrant; an idle, sturdy beggar; a vagabond; a tramp.
Note: 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.)
Defn: 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.
ROGUERogue, v. i.
Defn: To wander; to play the vagabond; to play knavish tricks. [Obs.]Spenser.
ROGUERogue, v. t.
1. To give the name or designation of rogue to; to decry. [Obs.] Cudworth.
2. (Hort.)
Defn: To destroy (plants that do not come up to a required standard).
ROGUERYRogu"er*y, n.
1. The life of a vargant. [Obs.]
2. The practices of a rogue; knavish tricks; cheating; fraud; dishonest practices. 'Tis no scandal grown, For debt and roguery to quit the town. Dryden.
3. Arch tricks; mischievousness.
ROGUESHIPRogue"ship, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being a rogue. [Jocose] "Your rogueship." Dryden.
ROGUISHRogu"ish, a.
1. Vagrant. [Obs.] Spenser. His roguish madness Allows itself to anything. Shak.
2. Resembling, or characteristic of, a rogue; knavish.
3. Pleasantly mischievous; waggish; arch.The most bewitching leer with her eyes, the most roguish cast.Dryden.— Rogu"ish*ly, adv.— Rogu"ish*ness, n.
ROGUYRogu"y, a.
Defn: Roguish. [Obs.] L'Estrange.
ROHOBRo"hob, n.
Defn: An inspissated juice. See Rob.
ROIALRoi"al, a.
Defn: Royal. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ROILRoil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Roiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Roiling.] Etym:[Cf. OE. roilen to wander; possibly fr. OF. roeler to roll, equiv. toF. 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.
Note: Provincial in England and colloquial in the United States. A commoner, but less approved, form is rile.
ROILRoil, v. i.
1. To wander; to roam. [Obs.]
2. To romp. [Prov.Eng.] Halliwell.
ROILYRoil"y, a.
Defn: Turbid; as, roily water.
ROINRoin, v. t.
Defn: See Royne. [Obs.]
ROINRoin, n. Etym: [F. rogne. See Roynish.]
Defn: A scab; a scurf, or scurfy spot. [Obs.]
ROINISHRoin"ish, a.
Defn: See Roynish. [Obs.]
ROINTRoint, interj.
Defn: See Aroint.
ROISTRoist, v. i.
Defn: See Roister.
ROISTER Roist"er, v. i. Etym: [Probably fr. F. rustre boor, a clown, clownish, fr. L. rustucus rustic. See Rustic.]
Defn: To bluster; to swagger; to bully; to be bold, noisy, vaunting,or turbulent.I have a roisting challenge sent amongst The dull and factious noblesof the Greeks. Shak.
ROISTERRoist"er, n.
Defn: See Roisterer.
ROISTERERRoist"er*er, n.
Defn: A blustering, turbulent fellow.If two roisterers met, they cocked their hats in each other faces.Macaulay.
ROISTERLYRoist"er*ly, a.
Defn: Blustering; violent. [R.]
ROISTERLYRoist"er*ly, adv.
Defn: In a roistering manner. [R.]
ROKAMBOLERok"am*bole, n.
Defn: See Rocambole.
ROKERoke, n. Etym: [See Reek.]
1. Mist; smoke; damp [Prov.Eng.] [Written also roak, rook, and rouk.]
2. A vein of ore. [Pov.Eng.] Halliwell.
ROKEAGE; ROKEERoke"age, Rok"ee, n. Etym: [Cf. Nocake.]
Defn: Parched Indian corn, pounded up and mixed with sugar; — called also yokeage. [Local, U.S.]
ROKELAYRok"e*lay, n. Etym: [Cf. Roquelaure.]
Defn: A short cloak. [Written also rockelay, rocklay, etc.] [Scot.]
ROKYRok"y, a. Etym: [See Roke.]
Defn: Misty; foggy; cloudy. [Prov. Eng.] Ray.
ROLERôle, n. Etym: [F. See Roll.]
Defn: A part, or character, performed by an actor in a drama; hence, a part of function taken or assumed by any one; as, he has now taken the rôle of philanthropist. Title rôle, the part, or character, which gives the title to a play, as the part of Hamlet in the play of that name.
ROLL Roll, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rolled; p. pr. & vb. n. Rolling.] Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.]
ROLLRoll, v. i.
1. To move, as a curved object may, along a surface by rotation without sliding; to revolve upon an axis; to turn over and over; as, a ball or wheel rolls on the earth; a body rolls on an inclined plane. And her foot, look you, is fixed upon a spherical stone, which rolls, and rolls, and rolls. Shak.
2. To move on wheels; as, the carriage rolls along the street. "The rolling chair." Dryden.
3. To be wound or formed into a cylinder or ball; as, the cloth rolls unevenly; the snow rolls well.
4. To fall or tumble; — with over; as, a stream rolls over a precipice.
5. To perform a periodical revolution; to move onward as with a revolution; as, the rolling year; ages roll away.
6. To turn; to move circularly. And his red eyeballs roll with living fire. Dryden.
7. To move, as waves or billows, with alternate swell and depression. What different sorrows did within thee roll. Prior.
8. To incline first to one side, then to the other; to rock; as, there is a great difference in ships about rolling; in a general semse, to be tossed about. Twice ten tempestuous nights I rolled. Pope.
9. To turn over, or from side to side, while lying down; to wallow; as, a horse rolls.
10. To spread under a roller or rolling-pin; as, the paste rolls well.
11. To beat a drum with strokes so rapid that they can scarcely be distinguished by the ear.
12. To make a loud or heavy rumbling noise; as, the thunder rolls. To roll about, to gad abroad. [Obs.] Man shall not suffer his wife go roll about. Chaucer.
ROLLRoll, n. Etym: [F. rôle a roll (in sense 3), fr. L. rotulus littlewheel, 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.)
Defn: 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.
ROLLABLERoll"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being rolled.
ROLLERRoll"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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: ANy insect whose larva rolls up leaves; a leaf roller. seeTortrix.
9. Etym: [CF. F. rollier.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of Old World picarian birds of the family Coraciadæ. The name alludes to their habit of suddenly turning over or "tumbling" in flight.
Note: 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.)
Defn: Any species of small ground snakes of the family Tortricidæ. 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 BEARINGRoll"er bear"ing. (Mach.)
Defn: A bearing containing friction rollers.
ROLLER COASTERRoller coaster.
Defn: An amusement railroad in which cars coast by gravity over a long winding track, with steep pitches and ascents.
ROLLEYRol"ley, n. Etym: [Probably fr. roll.]
Defn: A small wagon used for the underground work of a mine.Tomlison.
ROLLICRol"lic, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rollicked ; p. pr. & vb. n. Rollicking.]Etym: [Corrupt. fr. frolic, under the influence of roll.]
Defn: To move or play in a careless, swaggering manner, with afrolicsome air; to frolic; to sport; commonly in the form rollicking.[Colloq.]He described his friends as rollicking blades. T. Hook.
ROLLICHE; ROLLEJEE; ROLLICHIE Rol"li*che, n. [Also Rol"le*jee, Rol"li*chie.] [D. rolletje a little roll.]
Defn: A kind of sausage, made in a bag of tripe, sliced and fried, famous among the Dutch of New Amsterdam and still known, esp. in New Jersey.
ROLLINGRoll"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.
ROLLING-PINRoll"ing-pin`, n.
Defn: A cylindrical piece of wood or other material, with which paste or dough may be rolled out and reduced to a proper thickness.
ROLLWAYRoll"way`, n.
Defn: A place prepared for rolling logs into a stream.
ROLLY-POLYRoll"y-po`ly, n.
Defn: A kind of pudding made of paste spread with fruit, rolled into a cylindrical form, and boiled or steamed. — a.
Defn: Shaped like a rolly-poly; short and stout. [Written also roly- poly.]
ROLLY-POOLYRoll"y-pool`y, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A game in which a ball, rolling into a certain place, wins.[Written also rouly-pouly.]
ROLY-POLYRo"ly-po`ly, n. & a.
Defn: Rolly-poly.
ROMAGERom"age, n. & v.
Defn: See Rummage. [Obs.] Shak.
ROMAICRo*ma"ic, a. Etym: [NGr. romaïque. See Roman.]
Defn: Of or relating to modern Greece, and especially to its language. — n.
Defn: The modern Greek language, now usually called by the GreeksHellenic or Neo-Hellenic.
Note: 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.
ROMAJIKAIRo"ma*ji*ka`i, n. [Jap. romajikai.]
Defn: An association, including both Japanese and Europeans, having for its object the changing of the Japanese method of writing by substituting Roman letters for Japanese characters.
ROMANRo"man, a. Etym: [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.
ROMANRo"man, n.
1. A native, or permanent resident, of Rome; a citizen of Rome, or one upon whom certain rights and privileges of a Roman citizen were conferred.
2. Roman type, letters, or print, collectively; — in distinction from Italics.
ROMAN CALENDARRoman calendar.
Defn: The calendar of the ancient Romans, from which our modern calendars are derived. It is said to have consisted originally of ten months, Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November, and December, having a total of 304 days. Numa added two months, Januarius at the beginning of the year, and Februarius at the end, making in all 355 days. He also ordered an intercalary month, Mercedinus, to be inserted every second year. Later the order of the months was changed so that January should come before February. Through abuse of power by the pontiffs to whose care it was committed, this calendar fell into confusion. It was replaced by the Julian calendar. In designating the days of the month, the Romans reckoned backward from three fixed points, the calends, the nones, and the ides. The calends were always the first day of the month. The ides fell on the 15th in March, May, July (Quintilis), and October, and on the 13th in other months. The nones came on the eighth day (the ninth, counting the ides) before the ides. Thus, Jan. 13 was called the ides of January, Jan. 12, the day before the ides, and Jan. 11, the third day before the ides (since the ides count as one), while Jan. 14 was the 19th day before the calends of February.
ROMANCE Ro*mance", n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: A short lyric tale set to music; a song or short instrumental piece in ballad style; a romanza.
Syn.— Fable; novel; fiction; tale.
ROMANCERo*mance", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the language or dialects known as Romance.
ROMANCERo*mance", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Romanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Romancing.]
Defn: To write or tell romances; to indulge in extravagant stories.A very brave officer, but apt to romance. Walpole.
ROMANCERRo*man"cer, n.
Defn: One who romances.
ROMANCISTRo*man"cist, n.
Defn: A romancer. [R.]
ROMANCYRo*man"cy, a.
Defn: Romantic. [R.]
ROMANESQUERo`man*esque", a. Etym: [F. romanesque; cf. It. romanesco.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: Somewhat resembling the Roman; — applied sometimes to the debased style of the later Roman empire, but esp. to the more developed architecture prevailing from the 8th century to the 12th.
2. Of or pertaining to romance or fable; fanciful. Romanesque style (Arch.), that which grew up from the attempts of barbarous people to copy Roman architecture and apply it to their own purposes. This term is loosely applied to all the styles of Western Europe, from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the appearance of Gothic architecture.
ROMANESQUERo`man*esque", n.
Defn: Romanesque style.
ROMANICRo*man"ic, a. Etym: [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.
ROMANISHRo"man*ish, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Romanism.
ROMANISMRo"man*ism, n.
Defn: The tenets of the Church of Rome; the Roman Catholic religion.
ROMANISTRo"man*ist, n.
Defn: One who adheres to Romanism.
ROMANIZERo"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.
ROMANIZERo"man*ize, v. i.
1. To use Latin words and idioms. "Apishly Romanizing." Milton.
2. To conform to Roman Catholic opinions, customs, or modes of speech.
ROMANIZERRo"man*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who Romanizes.
ROMANSCHRo*mansch", n. Etym: [Grisons rumansch, rumonsch, romonsch. SeeRomance.]
Defn: The language of the Grisons in Switzerland, a corruption of theLatin. [Written also Romansch, and Rumonsch.]
ROMANTRo*mant", n.
Defn: A romaunt. [Obs.]
ROMANTICRo*man"tic, a. Etym: [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.
ROMANTICALRo*man"tic*al, a.
Defn: Romantic.
ROMANTICALYRo*man"tic*al*y, adv.
Defn: In a romantic manner.
ROMANTICISM Ro*man"ti*cism, n. Etym: [CF. It. romanticismo, F. romantisme, romanticisme.]
Defn: A fondness for romantic characteristics or peculiarities; specifically, in modern literature, an aiming at romantic effects; — applied to the productions of a school of writers who sought to revive certain medi He [Lessing] may be said to have begun the revolt from pseudo- classicism in poetry, and to have been thus unconsciously the founder of romanticism. Lowell.
ROMANTICISTRo*man"ti*cist, n.
Defn: One who advocates romanticism in modern literature. J. R.Seeley.
ROMANTICLYRo*man"tic*ly, adv.
Defn: Romantically. [R.] Strype.
ROMANTICNESSRo*man"tic*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being romantic; widness; fancifulness.Richardson.
ROMANY Rom"a*ny, n. Etym: [Gypsy romano, romani, adj., gypsy; cf. rom husband.]
1. A gypsy.
2. The language spoken among themselves by the gypsies. [Written also Rommany.]
ROMANZARo*man"za, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: See Romance,5.
ROMAUNTRo*maunt", n. Etym: [See Romance.]
Defn: A romantic story in verse; as, the "Romaunt of the Rose."O, hearken, loving hearts and bold, Unto my wild romaunt. Mrs.Browning.
ROMBLERom"ble, v.& n.
Defn: Rumble. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ROMBOWLINERom*bow"line, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Naut.)
Defn: Old, condemned canvas, rope, etc., unfit for use except in chafing gear. [Written also rumbowline.]
ROMEINE; ROMEITE Ro"me*ine, Ro"me*ite, n. Etym: [F. roméine. So calledafter the French mineralogist Romé L'Isle.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a hyacinth or honey-yellow color, occuring in square octahedrons. It is an antimonate of calcium.
ROMEKINRome"kin, n. Etym: [CF. Rummer.]
Defn: A drinking cup. [Written also romkin.] [Obs.] Halliwell.
ROME PENNY; ROME SCOTRome" pen`ny, or; Rome" scot`.
Defn: See Peter pence, under Peter.
ROMEWARDRome"ward, adv.
Defn: Toward Rome, or toward the Roman Catholic Church.
ROMEWARDRome"ward, a.
Defn: Tending or directed toward Rome, or toward the Roman CatholicChurch.To analyze the crisis in its Anglican rather than in its Romewardaspect. Gladstone.
ROMICRom"ic, n.
Defn: A method of notation for all spoken sounds, proposed by Mr. Sweet; — so called because it is based on the common Roman-letter alphabet. It is like the palæotype of Mr. Ellis in the general plan, but simpler.
ROMISHRom"ish, a.
Defn: Belonging or relating to Rome, or to the Roman Catholic Church; — frequently used in a disparaging sense; as, the Romish church; the Romish religion, ritual, or ceremonies.
ROMISTRom"ist, n.
Defn: A Roman Catholic. [R.] South.
ROMP Romp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Romped; p. pr. & vb. n. Romping.] Etym: [A variant of ramp. See Ramp to leap, Rampallian.]
Defn: To play rudely and boisterously; to leap and frisk about in play.
ROMPRomp, n.
1. A girl who indulges in boisterous play.
2. Rude, boisterous play or frolic; rough sport. While romp-loving miss Is hauled about in gallantry robust. Thomson.
ROMPINGRomp"ing, a.
Defn: Inclined to romp; indulging in romps.A little romping girl from boarding school. W. Irving.
ROMPINGLYRomp"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a romping manner.
ROMPISHRomp"ish, a.
Defn: Given to rude play; inclined to romp. —- Romp"ish, adv.— Romp"ish*ness, n.
ROMPURom"pu, a. Etym: [F. rompu, p. p. of rompre to breeak, L. rumpere.See Rupture.] (Her.)
Defn: Broken, as an ordinary; cut off, or broken at the top, as a chevron, a bend, or the like.
RONCADOR Ron`ca*dor", n. Etym: [Sp., a snorer, fr. roncar to snore. So called in allusion to the grunting noise made by them on being taken from the water. ] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of California sciænoid food fishes, especially Roncador Stearnsi, which is an excellent market fish, and the red roncador (Corvina, or Johnius, saturna).
RONCHILRon"chil, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. ronquillo slightly hoarse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American marine food fish (Bathymaster signatus) of theNorth Pacific coast, allied to the tilefish. [Written also ronquil.]
RONCORon"co, n. Etym: [Sp. ronco hoarse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Croaker, n., 2. (a). [Texas]
RONDACHERon`dache", n. Etym: [F.] (Anc. Armor.)
Defn: A circular shield carried by foot soldiers.
RONDERonde, n. Etym: [F.] (Print.)
Defn: A kind of script in which the heavy strokes are nearly upright, giving the characters when taken together a round look.
RONDEAURon*deau", n. Etym: [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.
Note: 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.)
Defn: See Rondo,1.
RONDELRon"del, n. Etym: [Cf. Rondeau, Roundel.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A small round tower erected at the foot of a bastion. [Obs.]
2. Etym: [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.
RONDELETIARon`de*le"ti*a, n. Etym: [NL. So named after William Rondelet, aFrench naturalist.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tropical genus of rubiaceous shrubs which often have brilliant flowers.
RONDLERon"dle, n. Etym: [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.
RONDORon"do, n. Etym: [It. rondò, fr. F. rondeau. See Rondeau.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: See Rondeau, 1.
RONDURERon"dure, n. Etym: [Cf. F. rondeur roundness.]
1. A round; a circle. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Roundness; plumpness. [R.] High-kirtled for the chase, and what was shown Of maiden rondure, like the rose half-blown. Lowell.
RONGRong, obs.
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Ring. Chaucer.
RONGRong, n.
Defn: Rung (of a ladder). [Obs.] Chaucer.
RONGEURRon`geur", n. Etym: [F., fr. ronger to gnaw.] (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument for removing small rough portions of bone.
RONIN Ro"nin", n. [Jap. ro-nin, fr. Chin. lang profligate, lawless + jên (old sound nin) man.]
Defn: In Japan, under the feudal system, a samurai who had renounced his clan or who had been discharged or ostracized and had become a wanderer without a lord; an outcast; an outlaw.
RONION; RONYONRon"ion, Ron"yon, n. Etym: [F. rogne scab, mange.]
Defn: A mangy or scabby creature."Aroint thee, with!" the rump-fed ronyon cries. Shak.
RONNE; RONNENRon"ne,
Defn: obs. imp. pl., and Ron"nen (,
Defn: obs. p. p. of Renne, to run. Chaucer.
RONTRont, n. Etym: [See Runt.]
Defn: A runt. [Obs.] Spenser.
RONTGENRönt"gen, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the German physicist Wilhelm KonradRöntgen, or the rays discovered by him; as, Röntgen apparatus.
RONTGENIZERönt"gen*ize, v. t. (Physics)
Defn: To render (air or other gas) conducting by the passage ofRöntgen rays.
RONTGEN RAYRöntgen ray. (Physics)
Defn: Any of the rays produced when cathode rays strike upon surface of a solid (as the wall of the vacuum tube). Röntgen rays are noted for their penetration of many opaque substances, as wood and flesh, their action on photographic plates, and their fluorescent effects. They were called X rays by their discoverer, W. K. Röntgen. They also ionize gases, but cannot be reflected, or polarized, or deflected by a magnetic field. They are regarded as nonperiodic, transverse pulses in the ether. They are used in examining opaque objects, as for locating fractures or bullets in the human body.
ROODRood, n. Etym: [AS. rr, 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.
Note: 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 red; 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 road, not so." Shak. — Rood beam (Arch.), a beam across the chancel of a church, supporting the road. — Rood loft (Arch.), a loft or gallery, in a church, on which the rood and its appendagess 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.
ROODEBOKRoo"de*bok, n. Etym: [D. rood red + bok buck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pallah.
ROODYRood"y, a.
Defn: Rank in growth. [Prov.Eng.]
ROOFRoof, n. Etym: [OE. rof, AS. hr top, roof; akin to D. roef cabin,Icel. hr a shed under which ships are built or kept; cf. OS. hr roof,Goth. hr. Cf. Roost.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
ROOFRoof, 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.
ROOFERRoof"er, n.
Defn: One who puts on roofs.
ROOFINGRoof"ing, n.
1. The act of covering with a roof.