Home Site Menu Religion Menu Interesting Menu Humour Menu Guestbook Forum Email

Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

E. Cobham Brewer From The Edition Of 1894

powered by FreeFind

the eighteenth letter of the Latin alphabet.

The original Semitic letter was probably inspired by an Egyptian hieroglyph for "head", pronounced t-p in Egyptian, but it was used for R by Semites because in their language, the word for "head" was Rêš (also the name of the letter). It developed into Greek (Rhô) and Latin R. It is likely that some Etruscan forms of the letter added the extra stroke to distinguish it from a later form of the letter P, although the similarity of the proto-Semitic glyph to the modern form with the added stroke is striking.

R in prescriptions. The ornamental part of this letter is the symbol of Jupiter , under whose special protection all medicines were placed. The letter itself (Recipe, take) and its flourish may be thus paraphrased: “Under the good auspices of Jove, the patron of medicines, take the following drugs in the proportions set down.” It has been suggested that the symbol is for Responsum Raphaelis, from the assertion of Dr. Napier and other physicians of the seventeenth century, that the angel Raphael imparted them.

R

is called the dog—letter, because a dog in snarling utters the letter r—r—r—r, r—r, r—r—r—r—r, etc.— sometimes preceded by a g.

“Irritata canis quod RR quam plurima dicat.”

Lucillus.

“[R] that's the dog's name. R is for the dog.” — Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4.

The three R's. Sir William Curtis being asked to give a toast, said, “I will give you the three R's— writing, reading, and arithmetic.”

“The House is aware that no payment is made except on the `three R's.' ”— Mr. Cory. M.P.: Address to the House of Commons, February 28th, 1867.

R.A.P

Rupees, annas, and pies, in India; corresponding to our s. d.

R.I.P

Requiescat in pace.

R.M.T

In the reign of William III. all child—stealers (comprachios ) apprehended were branded with red—hot iron: R (rogue) on the shoulders; M (manslayer) on the right—hand; and T (thief) on the left.

Rabagas A demagogue in the kingdom of the king of Monaco. He was won over to the court party by being invited to dine at the palace. (M. Sardou: Rabagas, 1872.)

Rabbi Abron of Trent

A fictitious sage and wonderful linguist, “who knew the nature of all manner of herbs, beasts, and minerals.” (Reynard the Fox, xii.)

Rabbi Bar—Cochba

in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, made the Jews believe that he was the Messiah, because he had the art of breathing fire. (Beckmann: History of Inventions.)

Rabbit

A Welsh rabbit. Toasted cheese, or rather bread and cheese toasted together. (Qy. “rare—bit.”)

Rabelais

The English Rabelais. Swift, Sterne, and Thomas Amory have been so called. Voltaire so calls Swift.

The modern Rabelais. William Maginn (1794—1842).

Rabelais' Dodge

Rabelais one day was at a country inn, and finding he had no money to pay his score, got himself arrested as a traitor who was forming a project to poison the princes. He was immediately sent to Paris and brought before the magistrates, but, as no tittle of evidence was found against him, was liberated forthwith. By this artifice he not only got out of his difficulty at the inn, but he also got back to Paris free of expense. Fathered on Tarleton also.

Rabelaisian Licence

The wild grotesque of Rabelais, whether in words or artistic illustrations.

Rabicano

or Rabican. The name of Astolpho's horse. Its sire was Wind, and its dam Fire. It fed on unearthly food. (Orlando Furioso. )

Argalia's steed in Orlando Innamorato is called by the same name. (See Horse.)

Raboin

or Rabuino (French). The devil; so called from the Spanish rubo (a tail). In the mediaeval ages it was vulgarly asserted that the Jews were born with tails; this arose from a confusion of the word rabbi or rabbins with raboin or rabuino.

Rabsheka

in the satire of Absalom and Achitophel, by Dryden and Tate, is meant for Sir Thomas Player. Rabshakeh was the officer sent by Sennacherib to summon the Jews to surrender, and he told them insolently that resistance was in vain. (2 Kings xviii.)

“Next him, let railing Rabsheka have place— So full of zeal, he has no need of grace.” (Pt. ii.)

Raby

(Aurora). The model of this exquisite sketch was Miss Millbank, as she appeared to Lord Byron when he first knew her. Miss Millpond (a little farther on in the same canto) is the same lady after marriage. In canto i., Donna Inez is an enlarged portrait of the same person. Lord Byron describes himself in the first instance under the character of Don Juan, and in the last as Don José.

Races

Goodwood Races. So called from Goodwood Park, in which they are held. They begin the last Tuesday of July, and continue four days, of which Thursday (the “cup—day") is the principal. These races are very select, and admirably conducted. Goodwood Park was purchased by Charles, first Duke of Richmond, of the Compton family, then resident in East Lavant, a village two miles north of Chichester.

The Newmarket Races. There are seven annual race meetings at Newmarket: (1) The Craven; (2) first spring; (3) second spring; (4) July; (5) first October; (6) second October; (7) the Houghton.

The Epsom. So called from Epsom Downs, where they are held. They last four days. The Derby. The second day (Wednesday) of the great May meeting at Epsom, in Surrey; so called from the

Earl of Derby, who instituted the stakes in 1780. This is the great “Classic Race” for colts and fillies three years old.

The Oaks. The fourth day (Friday) of the great Epsom races; so called from “Lambert's Oaks,” erected on lease by the “Hunter's Club.” The Oaks estate passed to the Derby family, and the twelfth earl established the stakes so called. This is the great “classic race” for fillies three years old.

The St. Leger. The great Doncaster race; so called from Colonel St. Leger, who founded the stakes in 1776. This is the great “classic race” for both colts and fillies of three years old. Horses that have competed in the Derby and Oaks may take part in the St. Leger.

Ascot Races, held on Ascot Heath, in Berks.

Races

(Lengths run). (i) Under a mile and a half:—

The Newmarket Stakes, 1 mile 2 furlongs.

The Prince of Wales's Stakes (at Leicester), rather less. The Eclipse Stakes, 1 1/4 mile.

The Kempton Park Stakes, 1 1/4 mile.

The Lancashire Plate (at the September Manchester meeting) is only 7 furlongs. In 1890 the Duke of Portland won all these five races; Ayrshire won two of them, and Donovan the other three.

(ii) Long distances (between 1 1/4 and 3 miles ):—

The Great Northampton Stakes, 1 1/4 mile.

Ascot (Gold Vase), 2 miles.

Ascot (Gold Cup), 2 1/2 miles.

Ascot (Alexander Plate), 3 miles.

The Chester Cup, 2 1/4 miles.

The Great Metropolitan Stakes (in the Epsom Spring Meeting), 2 1/4 miles. The Hardwicke Stakes, the Goodwood Cup, 2 1/2 miles (in July), and the Doncaster Cup, 2.634 miles (in September), are long races.

Rachaders

The second tribe of giants or evil genii, who had frequently, made the earth subject to their kings, but were ultimately punished by Shiva and Vishnoo. (Indian mythology.)

Rache

A “setter,” or rather a dog said to hunt wild beasts, birds, and even fishes by scent. The female was called a brache— i.e. bitch—rache. (Saxon, raecc; French, braque.)

“A leyshe of ratches to renne an hare.”— Skelton: Magnificence

Rack

A flying scud, drifting clouds. (Icelandic, rek, drift; verb, recka, to drive.)

“The cloud—capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples, the great globe itself,

Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve

And ... leave not a rack behind.”

Shakespeare: Tempest, iv. 1.

Rack. The instrument of torture so called was a frame in which a man was fastened, and his arms and legs were stretched till the body was lifted by the tension several inches from the floor. Not unfrequently the limbs were forced thereby out of their sockets. Coke says that the rack was first introduced into the Tower by the Duke of Exeter, constable of the Tower, in 1447, whence it was called the “Duke of Exeter's daughter.”

(Dutch, rak; verb, rakken, to stretch: Danish, rag; Anglo—Saxon, reac.

Rack—rent

The actual value or rent of a tenement, and not that modified form on which the rates and taxes are usually levied. (Saxon, raecan, to stretch; Dutch, racken.)

“A rent which is equivalent, or nearly equivalent in amount, to the full annual value of the land, is a rack—rent.”— Encyclopaedia Britannica, vol. xx. p. 403.

Rack and Manger

Housekeeping.

To lie at rack and manger. To live at reckless expense.

“When Virtue was a country maide,

And had no skill to set up trade.

She came up with a carrier's jade,

And lay at rack and manger.”

Life of Robin Goodfellow. (1628.)

Rack and Ruin

Utter destitution. Here “rack” is a variety of wrack and wreck.

“The worst of all University snobs are those unfortunates who go to rack and ruin from their desire to ape their betters.”— Thackeray: Book of Snobs, chap. xv. p. 87.

Racket

Noise or confusion, like that of persons playing racket or tennis.

Racy

Having distinctive piquancy, as racy wine. It was first applied to wine, and, according to Cowley, comes to us from the Spanish and Portuguese raiz (root), meaning having a radical or distinct flavour; but probably it is a corruption of “relishy” (French, reléché, flavourous).

“Rich, racy verse, in which we see

The soil from which they come, taste, smell, and see” Cowley.

Racy Style

Piquant composition, the very opposite of mawkish.

Radcliffe Library

(Oxford). Founded by Dr. John Radcliffe, of Wakefield, Yorkshire. (1650—1714.)

“When King William [III] consulted [Radcliffe] on his swollen apkles and thin body, Radcliffe said, `I would not have your Majesty's two legs for your three kingdoms.' ”— Leigh Hunt: The Town, chap. vi.

Radegaste

A tutelary god of the Slavi. The head was that of a cow, the breast was covered with an aegis, the left hand held a spear, and a cock surmounted its helmet. (Slavonic mythology.)

Radegund

Queen of the Amazons, “half like a man.” Getting the better of Sir Artegal in a single combat, she compelled him to dress in “woman's weeds,” with a white apron before him, and to spin flax. Britomart, being informed by Talus of his captivity, went to the rescue, cut off the Amazon's head, and liberated her knight.

(Spencer: Faërie Queene, book v. 4—7.)

St. Radegonde or Radegund, wife of Clothaire, King of France.

St. Radegonde's lifted stone. A stone sixty feet in circumference, placed on five supporting stones, said by the historians of Poitou to have been so arranged in 1478, to commemorate a great fair held on the spot in the October of that year. The country people insist that Queen Radegonde brought the impost stone on her head,

and the five uprights in her apron, and arranged them all as they appear to this day.

Radevore

(3 syl.). Tapestry.

“This woful lady ylern'd had in youthe

So that she worken and embrowden kouthe,

And weven in stole [the loom] the radevore.

As hyt of wommen had be woved yore.”

Chaucer.

Radical

An ultra—Liberal, verging on republican opinions. The term was first applied as a party name in 1818 to Henry Hunt, Major Cartwright, and others of the same clique, who wished to introduce radical reform in the representative system, and not merely to disfranchise and enfranchise a borough or two. Lord Bolingbroke, in his Discourses on Parties, says, “Such a remedy might have wrought a radical cure of the evil that threatens our constitution.”

Radiometer

The name of an instrument invented by Crookes for measuring the mechanical effect of radiant energy. It is like a miniature anemometer, and is made to revolve by the action of light, the cups of the anemometer being replaced by discs coloured white on one side and black on the other, and the instrument is enclosed in a glass globe from which the air has been exhausted, so that no heat is transmitted.

Radit Usque ad Cutem

He fleeced him to the skin; he sucked him dry. He shaved off all his hair (instead of only trimming it).

Rag

A tatter, hence a remnant, hence a vagabond or ragamuffin.

“Lash hence these overweening rags of France.”

Shakespeare: Richard III., v. 3.

Rag. A cant term for a farthing. Paper money not easily convertible is called “rag—money.”

“Money by me? Heart and good—will you might,

But surely, master, not a rag of money.”

Shakespeare: Comedy of Errors, iv. 4.

Rag

(The). The Army and Navy Club. “The rag,” of course, is the flag.

“ `By the way come and dine to—night at the Rag, said the major.”— Truth, Queer Story, April 1, 1886.

Rag—water

Whisky. (Thieves? jargon.)

Rags of Antisthenes

Rank pride may be seen peering through the rags of Antisthenes' doublet. (See Antisthenes. )

Rags and Jags

Rags and tatters. A jagged edge is one that is toothed.

“Hark, hark! the dogs do bark,

The beggars are coming to town;

Some in rags and some in jags,

And some in silken gown.”

Nursery Rhyme.

Ragamuffin

(French, maroufle). A muff or muffin is a poor thing of a creature, a “regular muff;” so that a ragamuffin is a sorry creature in rags.

“I have led my ragamuffins where they are peppered.”— Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., v. 3.

Ragged Robin

A wild—flower. The word is used by Tennyson to mean a pretty damsel in ragged clothes.

“The prince Hath picked a ragged robin from the hedge.”

Tennyson: Idylls of the King; Enid.

Raghu

A legendary king of Oude, belonging to the dynasty of the Sun. The poem called the Raghu—vansa, in nineteen cantos, gives the history of these mythic kings.

Ragman Roll

originally meant the “Statute of Rageman” (De Ragemannis ), a legate of Scotland, who compelled all the clergy to give a true account of their benefices, that they might be taxed at Rome accordingly. Subsequently it was applied to the four great rolls of parchment recording the acts of fealty and homage done by the Scotch nobility to Edward I. in 1296; these four rolls consisted of thirty—five pieces sewn together. The originals perished, but a record of them is preserved in the Rolls House, Chancery Lane.

Ragnarok

[twilight of the gods]. The day of doom, when the present world and all its inhabitants will be annihilated. Vidar of Vali will survive the conflagration, and reconstruct the universe on

an imperishable basis. (Scandinavian mythology.)

“And Frithiof, mayst thou sleep away

Till Ragnarok, if such thy will.”

Frithiof—Saga: Frithiof's Joy.

Ragout

is something “more—ish,” something you will be served twice to. (Latin, re—gustus, tasted again; French, re—goûte.)

Rahu

The demon that causes eclipses. One day Rahu stole into Valhalla to quaff some of the nectar of immortality. He was discovered by the Sun and Moon, who informed against him, and Vishnu cut off his head. As he had already taken some of the nectar into his mouth, the head was immortal, and he ever afterwards hunted the Sun and Moon, which he caught occasionally, causing eclipses. (Hindu mythology. )

Rail

To sit on the rail. To shuffle off a direct answer; to hedge or to fence; to reserve the decision of one's vote. Here rail means the fence, and “to sit on the rail” to sit on one side. A common American phrase.

“If he said `Yes,' there was an end to any church support at once; if `No,' he might as well go home at once. So he tried to sit on the rail again.”— T. Terrell: Lady Delmar, chap. i.

Railway Abbreviations

C. & D. Collected and delivered— i.e. the rate quoted includes the entire charge from sender to consignee. Such goods are collected by the railway company and delivered according to the address at the price stated. S. to S. From station to station. This does not include collecting and delivering.

O.R. Owner's risk.

C.R. Company's risk.

O.C.S. On company's service; such parcels go free. C. by B. Collection from the sender to the barge, both included. O/C. Overcharged.

O/S. Outstanding.

Railway King

George Hudson, of Yorkshire, chairman of the North Midland Company, and for a time the Dictator of the railway speculations. In a day he cleared the large sum of 100,000. It was the Rev. Sydney Smith who gave him this designation. (1800—1871.)

Railway Signals

“White is all right; Red is all wrong
Green is go cautiously bowling along.”

Railways

A. & B. R. Aylesbury and Buckingham Railway.

B. & L. J. R. Bourn and Lynn Joint Railway.

B. & M. R. Brecon and Merthyr Railway.

B. & N. C. R. Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. Cal. R. Caledonian Railway.

Cam. R. Cambrian Railway.

C. K. & P. R. Cockermouth, Keswick, and Penrith Railway.

C.L.C. Cheshire Lines Committee, embracing the G. N., M. S. & L., and Mid. Coys. C. V. R. Colne Valley and Halstead Railway.

C. W. & C. R. Central Wales and Carmarthen Railway.

C. & C. R. Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway.

D. R. & C. R. Denbigh, Ruthin, and Corwen Railway.

E. L. R. East London Railway.

E. & W. J. R. East and West Junction Railway.

Fur. R. Furness Railway.

G. & K. R. Garstang and Knotend Railway.

G. & S. W. R. Glasgow and South—Western Railway. G. E. R. Great Eastern Railway.

G. N. S. R. Great Northern of Scotland Railway.

G. N. R. Great Northern Railway.

G. N. I. R. Great Northern of Ireland Railway.

G. S. & W. R. Great Southern and Western Railway. G. W. R. Great Western Railway.

H. R. Highland Railway.

I. of M. R. Isle of Man Railway.

I. of W. R. Isle of Wight Railway.

L. & Y. R. Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. L. B. & S. C. R. London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway. L. C. & D. R. London, Chatham, and Dover Railway.

L. D. & E. C. R. Lancashire, Derby, and East Coast Railway.

L. & N. W. R. London and North—Western Railway.

L. & S. W. R. London and South—Western Railway.

L. T. & S. R. London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway. M. & M. R. Manchester and Milford Railway.

M. S. & L. R. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway.

M. S. J. & A. R. Manchester, South Junction, and Altrincham Railway. M. & C. R. Maryport and Carlisle Railway.

Met. R. Metropolitan Railway.

Met. D. R. Metropolitan District Railway.

M. R. Midland Railway.

M. W. R. Mid—Wales Railway.

M. G. W. I. R. Midland Great—Western of Ireland Railway. N. & B. R. Neath and Brecon Railway.

N. & B. J. R. Northampton and Banbury Junction Railway.

N. B. R. North British Railway.

N. E. R. North—Eastern Railway.

N. L. R. North London Railway.

N. S. R. North Staffordshire Railway.

P. & T. R. Pembroke and Tenby Railway.

R. R. Rhymney Railway.

S. & W. & S. B. R. Severn and Wye and Severn Bridge Railway.

S. & D. J. R. Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway.

S. E. R. South—Eastern Railway.

S. M. & A. R. Swindon, Marlborough, and Andover Railway. T. V. R. Taff Vale Railway.

W. & L. R. Waterford and Limerick Railway.

W. & P. R. R. Watlington and Princes Risboro' Railway. W. R. Wigtownshire Railway.

W. M. & C. Q. R. Wrexham, Mold, and Connah's Quay Railway.

Rain

To rain cats and dogs. In northern mythology the cat is supposed to have great influence on the weather, and English sailors still say, “The cat has a gale of wind in her tail,” when she is unusually frisky. Witches that rode upon the storms were said to assume the form of cats; and the stormy north—west wind is called the cat's—nose in the Harz even at the present day.

The dog is a signal of wind, like the wolf, both which animals were attendants of Odin, the storm—god. In old German pictures the wind is figured as the “head of a dog or wolf,” from which blasts issue.

The cat therefore symbolises the down—pouring rain, and the dog the strong gusts of wind which accompany a rainstorm; and a “rain of cats and dogs” is a heavy rain with wind. (See Cat and Dog.) The French catadoupe or catadupe means a waterfall.

Rain Gauge

An instrument or contrivance for measuring the amount of rain which falls on a given surface.

Rainbow

Circle of Ulloa A white rainbow or luminous ring sometimes seen in Alpine regions opposite the sun in foggy weather.

Rainbow Chasers

Problematical politicians and reformers, who chase rainbows, which cannot possibly be caught, to “find the pot of gold at the foot thereof.” This alludes to an old joke, that a pot of gold can be dug up where the rainbow touches the earth.

Raining Tree

(The). The Til, a linden—tree of the Canaries, mentioned by a host of persons. Mandelolo describes it minutely, and tells us that the water which falls from this tree suffices for a plentiful supply for men and beasts of the whole island of Fierro, which contains no river. Glas assures us that “the existence of such a tree is firmly believed in the Canaries” (History of the Canary Islands). Cordeyro (Historia Insulana, book ii. chap. v.) says it is an emblem of the Trinity, and that the rain is called Agua Santa. Without doubt a rain falls from some trees (as the lime) in hot weather.

Rainy Day

(A). Evil times.

Lay by something for a rainy day. Save something against evil times.

Raise the Wind

To obtain ready money by hook or crook. A sea phrase. What wind is to a ship, money is to commerce.

“Ive tried queer ways

The wind to raise,

But ne'er had such a blow.”

Judy (My Lost Dog), Mar. 27, 1889.

Rajah

(Sanskrit for king, cognate with the Latin reg' or rex.) Maharajah means the “great rajah.”

Rake

A libertine. A contraction of rakehell, used by Milton and others.

“And far away amid their rakehell bands

They speed a lady left all succourless.”

Francis Quarles.

Rakshas

Evil spirits who guard the treasures of Kuvera, the god of riches. They haunt cemeteries and devour human beings; assume any shape at will, and their strength increases as the day declines. Some are hideously ugly, but others, especially the female spirits, allure by their beauty. (Hindu mythology.)

Rakush

Rustem's horse in the Shah Nameh of Firdusi, the Homer of Korassan. (See Horse. )

Raleigh Sir Walter Scott introduces in Kenilworth the tradition of his laying down his cloak on a miry spot for the queen to step on.

“Hark ye, Master Raleigh, see thou fail not to wear thy muddy cloak, in token of peuitence, till our pleasure be further known,”— Sir Walter Scott: Kenilworth, chap. xv.

Rally

is re—alligo, to bind together again. (French rallier.) In Spenser it is spelt re—allie—

“Before they could new consels re—allie.”

Faërie Queene.

“Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys,

We'll rally once again.”

G. F. Root: Battle—cry of Freedom, stanza i.

Ralph

or Ralpho. The squire of Hudibras. The model was Isaac Robinson, a zealous butcher in Moorfields, always contriving some queer art of church government. He represents the Independent party, and Hudibras the Presbyterian. Ralph rhymes with half and safe.

“He was himself under the tyranny of scruples as unreasonable as those of ... Ralpho.”— Macaulay.

Ralph Roister Doister

The title of the earliest English comedy; so called from the chief character. Written by Nicholas Udall. (16th century.)

Ram

The usual prize at wrestling matches. Thus Chaucer says of his Mellere, “At wrastlynge he wolde bere away the ram.” (Canterbury Tales: Prologue 550.)

Ram Feast

(The). May morning is so called at Holne, near Dartmoor, because on that day a ram is run down in the “Ploy Field.” It is roasted whole, with its skin and fur, close by a granite pillar. At mid—day a scramble takes place for a slice, which is supposed to bring luck to those who get it. Said to be a relic of Baal worship in England.

Ram and Teazle

(The). A public—house sign, is in compliment to the Clothiers' Company. The ram with the golden fleece is emblematical of wool, and the teazle is used for raising the nap of wool spun and woven into cloth.

Ram of the Zodiac

(The). This is the famous Chrysomallon, whose golden fleece was stolen by Jason in his Argonautic expedition. It was transposed to the stars, and made the first sign of the Zodiac.

The Vernal signs the Ram begins; Then comes the Bull; in May the Twins: The Crab in June; next Leo shines; And Virgo ends the northern signs. E. C. B.

Ram's Horn

(A). A loud, vulgar, unpolished speaker. A smooth—tongued orator is called a “silver trumpet.”

Rama The seventh incarnation of Vishnu.

The first was the fish; the second, the tortoise; the third, the boar; the fourth, the man—lion; the fifth, the dwarf; the sixth, Parus'u—Rama, son of Jamadagni; the seventh, RAMA, son of Dasaratha. King of Ayodhyâ; the eighth, Krishna or Crishna; the ninth, Buddha; and the last (tenth) will be Kalki, and the consummation of all things— a kind of millennium.

Rama performed many wonderful exploits, such as killing giants, demons, and monsters. He won Sita to wife because he was able to bend the bow of Siva.

Rama—Yana

The history of Rama, the best great epic poem of ancient India, and worthy to be ranked with the Iliad of Homer.

Ramadan

The ninth month of the Mahometan year, and the Mussulman's Lent or Holy Month.

“November is the financial Ramadan of the Sublime Porte.”— The Times.

That is, when the Turkish Government promises all kinds of financial reforms and curtailments of national expenses.

Rambouillet

Hôtel de Rambouillet. The réunion of rank and literary genius on terms of equality; a coterie where sparkling wit with polished manners prevails. The Marquise de Rambouillet, in the seventeenth century, reformed the French soirées, and purged them of the gross morals and licentious conversation which at that time prevailed. The present good taste, freedom without licentiousness, wit without double entendre, equality without familiarity, was due to this illustrious Italian. The Précieuses Ridicules of Molière was a satire on those her imitators who had not her talent and good taste. Catherine, Marquise de Rambouillet

(1588—1665).

Ramee Samee

The conjurer who swallowed swords, and could twist himself into a knot as if he had neither bones nor joints.

Rameses

(3 syl.). The title of an ancient Egyptian dynasty; it means Offspring of the Sun. This title was first assumed towards the close of the Eighteenth Dynasty, and ran through the Nineteenth. Rameses III. is called Rhampsinitos by Herodotos. Sesostris is supposed to be identical with Rameses the Great. (Eses, i.e. Isis.)

Ramiel

(2 syl.). One of the fallen angels cast out of heaven. The word means one that exalts himself against God.

Raminagobris

A cat; a vile poet. La Fontaine in several of his fables gives this name to the cat. Rabelais under this name satirises Guillaume Crétin, an old French poet in the reigns of Charles VIII., Louis XII., and Francois I. (Rabelais: Pantagruel, iii. 21.)

Rampallian

A term of contempt; probably it means a rampant or wanton woman; hence in A New Trick to Cheat the Devil (1639) we have this line: “And bold rampallian—like, swear and drink drunk.”

“Away, you scullion! you rampallian! you fustilarian! I'll tickle your catastrophe.”— Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., ii. 1.

Ramsay the Rich

Ramsay used to be called the Croesus of our English abbeys. It had only sixty monks of the Benedictine order to maintain, and its revenues allowed 1,000 a year to the abbot, and 100 a year for each of its monks.

David Ramsay. The old watchmaker near Temple Bar. Margaret Ramsay. His daughter, who became the bride of Lord Nigel. (Sir Walter Scott: Fortunes of Nigel.

Ramsbottom ( Mrs.). A vile speller of the Queen's English. It was the signature of Theodore Hook in his letters published in the John Bull newspaper, 1829.

Rana

Goddess of the sea, and wife of the sea—god Aeger. (Scandinavian mythology.)

“ `May Rama keep them in the deep,

As is her wont.

And no one save them from the grave,'

Cried Helgehont.”

Frithiof—Saga; The Banishment.

Randem—Tandem

A tandem of three horses. (University term.)

Random

(Roderick). A young Scotch scapegrace in quest of fortune; at one time basking in prosperity, at another in utter destitution. He is led into different countries, whose peculiarities are described; and into all sorts of society, as that of wits, sharpers, courtiers, courtesans, and so on. Though occasionally lavish, he is inherently mean; and though possessing a dash of humour, is contemptibly revengeful. His treatment of Strap is revolting to a generous mind. Strap lends him money in his necessity, but the heartless Roderick wastes the loan, treats Strap as a mere servant, fleeces him at dice, and cuffs him when the game is adverse. (Smollett: Roderick Random.)

Rank and File

Soldiers of any grade below that of lance—sergeant are so called, collectively, in military phraseology, and any two soldiers of such grade are spoken of as “a file;” thus, 100 rank and file would equal 50 file, that is, 50 men standing behind each other in a row. No soldier ever talks of files in the plural, or about “a file of fours.” As there are two in a “rank,” there is a left file and a right file; and men may move in “single

file” or in “double file.” A line of soldiers drawn up side by side or abreast is a rank.

Rank distinguished by Colour

In China the emperor, empress, and prince imperial wear yellow; the other wives of the emperor wear violet; high state officers wear blue; officials of lower rank wear red; and the general public wear black or some dark shade.

Ranks

Risen from the ranks. From mean origin; a self—made man. A military term applied to an officer who once served as a private soldier. Such an officer is now often called a “ranker.”

Rantipole

(3 syl.). A harum—scarum fellow, a madcap (Dutch, randten, to be in a state of idiotcy or insanity, and pole, a head or person). The late Emperor Napoleon III. was called Rantipole, for his escapdes at Strasbourg and Boulogne. In 1852 I myself saw a man commanded by the police to leave Paris within twenty—four hours for calling his dog Rantipole.

“Dick, be a little rantipolish.”— Colman: Heirat—Law.

Ranz des Vaches

Simple melodies played by the Swiss mountaineers on their Alp—horn when they drive their herds to pasture, or call them home (pour ranger des vaches, to bring the cows to their place).

Rap

Not worth a rap. The rap was a base halfpenny, intrinsically worth about half a farthing, issued for the nonce in Ireland in 1721, because small coin was so very scarce. There was also a coin in Switzerland called a rappe, worth the seventh of a penny.

“Many counterfeits passed about under the name of raps.”— Swift: Drapier's Letters.

Rape (1 syl.). The division of a county. Sussex is divided into six rapes, each of which has its river, forest, and castle. Herepp is Norwegian for a parish district, and rape in Doomsday Book is used for a district under military jurisdiction. (Icelandic hreppr, a district.)

Rape of the Lock

Lord Petre, in a thoughtless moment of frolic gallantry, cut off a lock of Arabella Fermor's hair; and this liberty gave rise to a bitter feud between the two families, which Alexander Pope has worked up into the best heroic—comic poem of the language. The first sketch was published in 1712 in two cantos. The machinery of sylphs and gnomes is most happily conceived. Pope, under the name of Esdras Barnevelt, apothecary, says the poem is a covert satire on Queen Anne and the Barrier Treaty. In the poem the lady is called Belinda, and the poet says she wore on her neck two curls, one of which the baron cut off with a pair of scissors borrowed of Clarissa. Belinda, in anger, demanded back the ringlet, but it had flown to the skies and become a meteor there. (See Coma Berenices .)

“Say what strange motive, goddess, could compel

A well—bred ford to assault a gentle belle;

O say, what stranger cause, yet unexplored,

Could make a gentle belle reject a lord.”

Introduction to the Poem.

Raphael

The sociable archangel who travelled with Tobias into Media and back again, instructing him on the way how to marry Sara and to drive away the wicked spirit. Milton introduces him as sent by God to advertise Adam of his danger. (See Seven Spirits .)

“Raphael, the sociable spirit, hath deigned

To travel with Tobias, and secured

His marriage with the seven—times—wedded maid.” Paradise Lost, v. 221—3.

Raphael, according to Longfellow, is the angel of the Sun, who brings to man the “gift of faith.”

“I am the angel of the Sun,

Whose flaming wheels began to run

When God Almighty's breath

Said to the darkness and the night,

`Let there be light,' and there was light,—

I bring the gift of faith.”

Golden Legend: The Miracle Play. iii.

St. Raphael, the archangel, is usually distinguished in Christian art by a pilgrim's staff, or carrying a fish, in allusion to his aiding Tobias to capture the fish which performed the miraculous cure of his father's eyesight.

The French Raphael. Eustace Lesueur (1617—1655).

Raphael of Cats

(The). Godefroi Mind, a Swiss painter, noted for his cats. (1768—1814.)

Rapparee

A wild Irish plunderer; so called from his being armed with a rapary or half—pike. (Irish rappire, a robber.)

Rappee

A coarse species of snuff, manufactured from dried tobacco by an instrument called in French a râpe, “instrument en metal percé de plusieurs trous, dont on se sert pour réduire les corps en pulpe ou en fragments. On se sert surtout de la râpe dans les ménages, pour le sucre, le chocolat, le poivre; et dans les usines, pour le tabac, les betteraves, les pommes de terre qu'on réduit en fécule, etc.” (Bouillet: Dictionnaire des Sciences.)

Rara A'vis

(Latin, a rare bird). A phenomenon; a prodigy; a something quite out of the common course. Black swans are now familiar to us; they are natives of Australia, and have given its name to the “Swan river.” At one time a black swan was emphatically a rara avis.

“Rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygne.”

Juvenal.

Rare Ben

So Shakespeare called Ben Jonson, the dramatist. (1574—1637.) Aubrey says that this inscription on his tablet in the “Poets' Corner,' Westminster Abbey, “was done at the charge of Jack Young (afterwards knighted), who, walking there when the grave was covering, gave the fellow eighteenpence to cut it.” At the late relaying of the pavement, this stone was unhappily removed. When Sir William Davenant was interred in Westminster Abbey, the inscription on his covering—stone was, “O rare Sir William Davenant”— showing how nearly the sublime and the ridiculous often meet.

Raree Show

A peep—show; a show carried about in a box.

Rascal

Originally applied in the chase to a lean, worthless deer, then a collective term for the commonalty, the mob; and popularly to a base fellow. Shakespeare says, “Horns! the noblest deer hath them as huge as the

rascal” [deer]. Palsgrave calls a starveling animal, like the lean kine of Pharaoh, “a rascall refus beest” (1530). The French have racaille (riff—raff).

“Come, you thin thing; come, you rascal.”— Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., v. 4.

Rascal Counters

Pitiful or paltry s. d. Brutus calls money paltry compared with friendship, etc.

“When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,

To lock such rascal counters from his friend

Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts,

Dash him to pieces.”

Shakespeare. Julius Caesar. iv. 5.

Rasher

A slice, as a rasher of bacon.

Rashleigh Osbaldistone

An accomplished but deceitful villain, called “the scholar.” He is the youngest of the six hopeful sons of Sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone. The six brothers were nicknamed “the sot,” “the bully,” “the gamekeeper,” “the horse—jockey,” “the fool,” and the crafty “scholar.” (Sir Walter Scott: Rob Roy.)

Rasiel

The angel who was the tutor of Adam. (Talmud.)

Raspberry

Rhyming slang for “heart,” as “it made my raspberry beat.” (See Chivy. )

Rasselas

Prince of Abyssinia, in Dr. Johnson's romance so called.

“`Rasselas' is a mass of sense, and its moral precepts are certainly conveyed in striking and happy language. The made astronomer who imagined that he possessed the regulation of the weather and the distribution of the seasons, is an original character in romance; and the happy valley in which Rasselas resides is sketched with poetical feeling.”— Young.

Rat

The Egyptians and Phrygians deified rats. The people of Bassora and Cambay to the present time forbid their destruction. In Egypt the rat symbolised “utter destruction;” it also symbolised “judgment,” because rats always choose the best bread for their repast.

Rat. Pliny tells us (bk. viii. ch. lvii.) that the Romans drew presages from these animals, and to see a white rat foreboded good fortune. The bucklers at Lanuvium being gnawed by rats presaged ill—fortune, and the battle of the Marses, fought soon after, confirmed this superstition. Prosperine's veil was embroidered with rats.

Irish rats rhymed to death. It was once a prevalent opinion that rats in pasturages could be extirpated by anathematising them in rhyming verse or by metrical charms. This notion is frequently alluded to by ancient authors. Thus, Ben Jonson says: “Rhyme them to death, as they do Irish rats” (Poctaster): Sir Philip Sidney

says: “Though I will not wish unto you ... to be rimed to death, as is said to be done in Ireland” (Defence of Poesie); and Shakespeare makes Rosalind say: “I was never so berhymed since ... I was an Irish rat,” alluding to the Pythagorean doctrine of the transmigration of souls (As You Like It, iii. 2). (See Charm.)

I smell a rat. I perceive there is something concealed which is mischievous. The allusion is to a cat smelling a rat.

Rat

(To). To forsake a losing side for the stronger party. It is said that rats forsake ships not weatherproof. A rat is one who rats or deserts his party. Hence workmen who work during a strike are called “rats.”

“Averting ...

The cup of sorrow from their lips.

And fly like rats from sinking ships.”

Swift: Epistle to Mr. Nugent.

Rat

(Un). A purse. Hence, a young boy thief is called a Raton. A sort of pun on the word rapt from the Latin rapto, to carry off forcibly. Courir le rat, to rob or break into a house at night—time.

To take a rat by the tail, or Prendre un rat par la queue, is to cut a purse. A phrase dating back to the age of Louis XIII., and inserted in Cotgrave's Dictionary. Of course, a cutpurse would cut the purse at the string or else he would spill the contents.

Rat, Cat, and Dog

“The Rat, the Cat, and Lovell the Dog,

Rule all England under the hog.”

The Rat, i.e. Rat—cliff; the Cat, i.e. Cat—esby; and Lovel the dog, is Francis, Viscount Lovel, the king's “spaniel.” The hog or boar was the crest of Richard III. William Collingham, the author of this rhyme (1413), was put to death for his pregnant wit.

Rat—killer

Apollo received this aristocratic soubriquet from the following incident:— Crinis, one of his priests, having neglected his official duties, Apollo sent against him a swarm of rats: but the priest, seeing the invaders coming, repented and obtained forgiveness of the god, who annihilated the swarms which he had sent with his fardarting arrows. For this redoubtable exploit the sun—god received the appellation of Apollo the Rat—killer. (Classic mythology.)

Ratatosk

The squirrel that runs up and down the mythological tree Yggdrasil'. (Scandinavian mythology.).

Ratten

(To). To annoy for refusing to join a trade union, or for not submitting to its demands. This is done by destroying or taking away a workman's tools, or otherwise incapacitating him from doing work. “To rat” is to desert one's party; to work for less than the price fixed by a trade union; and “ratten” is to act the part of a rat. (See Rat. )

Rattlin

(Jack). A famous naval character in Smollett's Roderick Random. Tom Bowling is another naval character in the same novel.

Raul

Sir Raul di Nangis, the Huguenot, in love with Valentina, daughter of the Comte de St. Bris, governor of the Louvre. Being sent for by Marguerite, he is offered the hand of Valentina in marriage, but rejects it, because he fancies she is betrothed to the Comte de Nevers. Nevers is slain in the Bartholomew massacre, and Valentina confesses her love for Raul. They are united by Marcello, an old Puritan servant, but scarcely is the ceremony ended when both are shot by the musketeers under the command of St. Bris. (Meyerbeer: Gli Ugonotti, an opera. )

Ravana according to Indian mythology, was fastened down between heaven and earth for 10,000 years by Siva's leg, for attempting to move the hill of heaven to Ceylon. He is described as a demon giant with ten faces. (Hindu mythology.)

Ravelin

(The or demi—lune, in fortification. A work with two faces, forming a salient angle, placed beyond the main ditch, opposite the curtain (q.v.), and separated from the covered way (q.v.) by a ditch which runs into the main ditch.

Raven

A bird of ill omen. They are said to forebode death and bring infection. The former notion arises from their following an army under the expectation of finding dead bodies to raven on; the latter notion is a mere offshoot of the former, seeing pestilence kills as fast as the sword.

“The boding raven on her cottage sat,

And with hoarse croakings warned us of our fate.” Gay: Pastorals: The Dirge.

“Like the sad—presaging raven that tolls

The sick man's passport in her hollow beak,

And, in the shadow of the silent night,

Does shake contagion from her sable wing.”

Marlowe: Jew of Malta (1638).

Raven. Jovianus Pontanus relates two skirmishes between ravens and kites near Beneventum, which prognosticated a great battle. Nicetas speaks of a skirmish between crows and ravens as presaging the irruption of the Scythians into Thrace. He also tells us that his friend Mr. Draper, in the flower of his age and robust health, knew he was at the point of death because two ravens flew into his chamber. Cicero was forewarned of his death by the fluttering of ravens, and Macaulay relates the legend that a raven entered the chamber of the great orator the very day of his murder, and pulled the clothes off his bed. Like many other birds, ravens indicate by their cries the approach of foul weather, but “it is ful unleful to beleve that God sheweth His prevy counsayle to crowes, as Isidore sayth.”

He has the foresight of a raven. A raven was accounted at one time a prephetic bird. (See above.

“Of inspired birds ravens are accounted the most prophetical. Accordingly, in the language of that district, `to have the foresight of a raven' is to this day a proverbial expression.”— Macanlay: History of St. Kilda, p. 174.

Ravens bode famine. When a flock of ravens forsake the woods we may look for famine and mortality, because “ravens bear the characters of Saturn, the author of these calamities, and have a very early perception of the bad disposition of that planet.” (See Athenian Oracle, Supplement, p. 476.)

“As if the great god Jupiter had nothing else to doe but to dryve about jacke—dawes and ravens.”— Carneades.

Ravens were once as white as swans, and not inferior in size; but one day a raven told Apollo that Coronis, a Thessalian nymph whom he passionately loved, was faithless. The god shot the nymph with his dart; but, hating the tell—tale bird—

“He blacked the raven o'er,

And bid him prate in his white plumes no more.” Addison: Translation of Ovid, bk. ii.

Ravens in Christian art. Emblems of God's Providence, in allusion to the ravens which fed Elijah. St. Oswald holds in his hand a raven with a ring in its mouth; St. Benedict has a raven at his feet; St. Paul the Hermit is drawn with a raven bringing him a loaf of bread, etc.

The fatal raven, consecrated to Odin, the Danish war—god, was the emblem on the Danish standard. This raven was said to be possessed of necromantic power. The standard was termed Landeyda (the desolation of the country), and miraculous powers were attributed to it. The fatal raven was the device of Odin, god of war, and was said to have been woven and embroidered in one noontide by the daughters of Regner Lodbrok, son of Sigurd, that dauntless warrior who chanted his death—song (the Krakamal) while being stung to death in a horrible pit filled with deadly serpents. If the Danish arms were destined to defeat, the raven hung his wings; if victory was to attend them, he stood erect and soaring, as if inviting the warriors to follow.

“The Danish raven, lured by annual prey

Hung o'er the land incessant.”

Thomson: Liberty, pt. iv.

The two ravens that sit on the shoulders of Odin are called Hugin and Munnin (Mind and Memory). One raven will not pluck another's cyes out (German, “Keine krähe hackt der anderen die augen ques“). Friends will not “peach” friends; you are not to take for granted all that a friend says of a friend.

Ravenglass

(Cumberland). A corruption of Afon—glass (Blue river).

Ravenstone

The stone gibbet of Germany; so called from the ravens which are wont to perch on it. (German rabenstein.)

“Do you think

I'll honour you so much as save your throat

From the Ravenstone, by choking you myself?” Byron: Werner, ii. 2.

Ravenswood

(Allan, Lord of). A decayed Scotch nobleman of the Royalist party.

Master Edgar Ravenswood. His son, who falls in love with Lucy Ashton, daughter of Sir William Ashton,

Lord—Keeper of Scotland. The lovers plight their troth at the Mermaid's Fountain, but Lucy is compelled to marry Frank Hayston, laird of Bucklaw. The bride, in a fit of insanity, attempts to murder the bridegroom and dies in convulsions. Bucklaw recovers, and goes abroad. Colonel Ashton, seeing Edgar at the funeral of Lucy, appoints a hostile meeting; and Edgar, on his way to the place appointed, is lost in the quicksands of Kelpies—flow. (Sir Walter Scott: Bride of Lammermoor.

In Donizetti's opera of Lucia di Lammermoor, Bucklaw dies of the wound inflicted by the bride, and Edgar,

heart—broken, comes on the stage and kills himself, that “his marriage with Lucy, forbidden on earth, may be consummated in heaven.”

Raw To touch one on the raw. To mention something that makes a person wince, like touching a horse on a raw place in cleaning him.

Raw Lobster

(A). A policeman. Lobsters before they are boiled are a dark blue. A soldier dressed in scarlet is a lobster; a policeman, or sort of soldier, dressed in dark blue is a raw lobster. The name was given to the new force by the Weekly Dispatch newspaper, which tried to write it down.

Rawhead and Bloody—Bones

A bogie at one time the terror of children.

“Servants awe children and keep them in subjection by telling them of Rawhead and Bloody—bones.”— Locke.

Raymond

(in Jerusalem Delivered). Master of 4,000 infantry, Count of Toulouse, equal to Godfrey in the

“wisdom of cool debate” (bk. iii.). This Nestor of the Crusaders slew Aladine, the king of Jerusalem, and planted the Christian standard upon the tower of David (bk. xx.).

Rayne

(or Raine (Essex). Go and say your prayers at Raine. The old church of Raine, built in the time of Henry II., famous for its altar to the Virgin, and much frequented at one time by pregnant women, who went to implore the Virgin to give them safe deliverance.

Razed Shoes

referred to in Hamlet, are slashed shoes.

“Would not this, sir ... with two Proveneal roses on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry of players, sir?”— Act iii. 2.

Razee

(raz—za). A ship of war cut down to a smaller size, as a seventy—four reduced to a frigate. (French, raser.)

Razor

Hewmg blocks with a razor. Livy relates how Tarquinius Priscus, defying the power of Attus Navius, the augur, said to him, “Tell me, if you are so wise, whether I can do what I am now thinking about.” “Yes,” said Navius. “Ha! ha!” cried the king; “I was thinking whether I could cut in twain that whetstone with a razor.” “Cut boldly!” answered the augur, and the king cleft it in twain at one blow.

Razzia

An incursion made by the military into an enemy's country, for the purpose of carrying off cattle or slaves, or for enforcing tribute. It is an Arabic word much employed in connection with Algerine affairs.

“War is a razzia rather than an art to the ... merciless Pelissier.”— The Standard.

Re

(Latin). Respecting; in reference to; as, “re Brown,” in reference to the case of Brown.

Reach

of a river. The part which lies between two points or bends; so called because it reaches from point to point.

“When he drew near them he would turn from each,

And loudly whistle till he passed the Reach.”

Crabbe: Borough.

Read between the Lines

(See under Lines .)

Read

or Read (Simon), alluded to by Ben Jonson in the Alchemist, i. 2, was Simon Read, of St. George's, Southwark, professor of physic. Rymer, in his Foedera, vol. xvi., says, “he was indicted for invoking evil

spirits in order to find out the name of a person who, in 1608, stole 37 10s. from Tobias Mathews, of St. Mary Steynings, London.

Reader

In the University of Oxford, one who reads lectures on scientific subjects. In the Inns of Court, one who reads lectures in law. In printing, one who reads and corrects the proof—sheets of any work before publication; a corrector of the press.

Ready

(The). An elliptical expression for ready—money. Goldsmith says, “AEs in presenti perfectum format“ (“Ready—money makes a man perfect"). (Eton Latin Grammar.)

“Lord Strut was not very flush in the `ready.”'— Dr. Arbuthnot.

Ready—to—Halt

A pilgrim that journeyed to the Celestial city on crutches. He joined the party under the charge of Mr. Greatheart, but “when he was sent for” he threw away his crutches, and, lo! a chariot bore him into Paradise. (Bunyan: Pilgrim's Progress, part ii.)

Real Jam

Prime stuff, a real treat, something delightful. Of course, the allusion is to jam given to children for a treat.

“There must have been a charming climate in Paradise, and [the] connubial bliss [there] ... was real jam.”— Sam Slick: Human Nature.

Real Presence

The doctrine that Christ Himself is really and substantially present in the bread and wine of the Eucharist after consecration.

Rear—mouse

or Rere—mouse. The bat. (Anglo—Saxon hrere—mus, the fluttering—mouse; verb. hrere—an, to flutter.) Of course, the “bat” is not a winged mouse.

Reason

The Goddess of Reason, November 10th, 1793. Mlle. Candeille, of the Opéra, was one of the earliest of these goddesses, but Mme. Momoro, wife of the printer, the Goddess of Liberty, was the most celebrated. On November 10th a festival was held in Notre Dame de Paris in honour of Reason and Liberty, when women represented these “goddesses.” Mlle. Candeille wore a red Phrygian cap, a white frock, a blue mantle, and tricolour ribbons. Her head was filleted with oak—leaves, and in her hand she carried the pike of

Jupiter—Peuple. In the cathedral a sort of temple was erected on a mound, and in this “Temple of Philosophy” Mlle. Candeille was installed. Young girls crowned with oak—leaves were her attendants, and sang hymns in her honour. Similar installations were repeated at Lyons and other places. (See Liberty , Goddess of.)

Mlle. Maillard, the actress, is mentioned by Lamartine as one of these goddesses, but played the part much against her will.

Mlle. Aubray was another Goddess of Reason.

Rebecca

Daughter of Isaac the Jew, in love with Ivanhoe. Rebecca, with her father and Ivanhoe, being taken prisoners, are confined in Front de Boeuf's castle. Rebecca is taken to the turret chamber and left with the old sibyl there; but when Brian de Bois Guilbert comes and offers her insult she spurns him with heroic disdain, and, rushing to the verge of the battlements, threatens to throw herself over if he touches her. Ivanhoe, who was suffering from wounds received in a tournament, is nursed by Rebecca. Being again taken prisoner, the Grand Master commands the Jewish maiden to be tried for sorcery, and she demands a trial by combat. The

demand is granted, when Brian de Bois Guilbert is appointed as the champion against her; and Ivanhoe undertakes her defence, slays Brian and Rebecca is set free. To the general disappointment of novel—readers, after all this excitement Ivanhoe tamely marries the lady Rowen'a, a “vapid piece of still life.” Rebecca pays the newly—married pair a wedding visit, and then goes abroad with her father to get out of the way. (Sir Walter Scott: Ivanhoe.)

Rebeccaites

(4 syl.). Certain Welsh rioters in 1843, whose object was to demolish turnpike gates. The name was taken from Rabekah, the bride of Isaac. When she left her father's house, Laban and his family “blessed her,” and said, “Let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them" (Gen. xxiv. 60).

Rebellion

(The). The revolts in behalf of the House of Stuart in 1715 and 1745; the former in behalf of the Chevalier de St. George, son of James II., called the Old Pretender, and the latter in favour of Charles Edward, usually termed the Young Pretender.

The Great Rebellion. The revolt of the Long Parliament against Charles I. (1642—1646.) The Great Irish Rebellion, 1789. It was caused by the creation of numerous Irish societies hostile to England, especially that called “The United Irishmen.” There have been eight or nine other rebellions. In 1365 the Irish applied to France for soldiers; in 1597 they offered the crown of Ireland to Spain; in 1796 they concluded a treaty with the French Directory.

Rebus

(Latin, with things). A hieroglyphic riddle, “non verbis sed rebus.” The origin of the word and custom is this: The basochiens of Paris, during the carnival, used to satirise the current follies of the day in squibs called De rebus quae geruntur (on the current events). That these squibs might not be accounted libellous, they employed hieroglyphics either wholly or in part.

Reception

(To get a), in theatrical language means to be welcomed with applause from the front, when you make your first appearance for the night. This signifies that the audience recognises your established reputation.

Rechabites

(3 syl.). A religious sect founded by Jonadab, son of Rechab, who enjoined his family to abstain from wine and to dwell in tents. (Jer. xxxv. 6, 7.)

Receipt

is a direction for compounding or mixing together certain ingredients to make something required. It also means a written discharge to a debtor for the payment of a debt.

Recipe

(3 syl.), Receipt. Recipe is Latin for take, and contracted into R is used in doctor's prescriptions. The dash through the R is an abbreviated form of, the symbol of Jupiter, and R means Recipe, deo volente.

Reck his own Rede

(To). Give heed to his own counsel. (Old English, Rec[an], to heed; Raed, counsel, advice.)

Reckon

(I). A peculiar phraseology common in the Southern States of America. Those in New England say, “I guess.” (See Calculate .)

Reckoning without your Host

To guess what your expenses at an hotel will be before the bill has been delivered; to enter upon an enterprise without knowing the cost.

“We thought that now our troubles were over; ... but we reckoned without our host.”— Macmillan's Magazine, 1887.

Reclaim

(2 syl.). To turn from evil ways. This is a term in falconry, and means to call back the hawk to the wrist. This was done when it was unruly, that it might be smoothed and tamed. (Latin, re—clamno.)

Recorded Death recorded means that the sentence of death is recorded or written by the recorder against the criminal, but not verbally pronounced by the judge. This is done when capital punishment is likely to be remitted. It is the verbal sentence of the judge that is the only sufficient warrant of an execution. The sovereign is now not consulted about any capital punishment.

Recreant

is one who cries out (French, récrier); alluding to the judicial combats, when the person who wished to give in cried for mercy, and was held a coward and infamous. (See Craven .)

Rector

Clerical Titles

(1) CLERK. As in ancient times the clergyman was about the only person who could write and read, the word clerical, as used in “clerical error,” came to signify an orthographical error. As the respondent in church was able to read, he received the name of clerk, and the assistants in writing, etc., are so termed in business. (Latin, clericus, a clergyman.)

(2) CURATE. One who has the cure of souls. As the cure of the parish used to be virtually entrusted to the clerical stipendiary, the word curate was appropriated to this assistant.

(3) RECTOR. One who has the parsonage and great tithes. The man who rules or guides the parish. (Latin, “a ruler.”)

(4) VICAR. One who does the “duty” of a parish for the person who receives the tithes. (Latin, vicarius, a deputy.)

(5) INCUMBENT and PERPETUAL CURATE are now termed Vicars. (See Parsons)

The French curé equals our vicar, and their vicaire our curate.

Reculer pour Mieux Sauter

To run back in order to give a better jump forwards; to give way a little in order to take up a stronger position.

“Where the empire sets its foot, it cannot withdraw without much loss of credit, whereas reouler pour mieux sauter must often be the most effective action in that tide of European civilisation, which is slowly, but surely, advancing into the heart of the Dark Continent.”— Nineteenth Century, December, 1892, p. 990.

Reculver

The antiquities of this place are fully described in Antiquitates Rutupinae, by Dr. Battley (1711). It was a Roman fort in the time of Claudius.

Red

The colour of magic.

“Red is the colour of magic in every country, and has been so from the very earliest times. The caps of fairies and musicians are well—nigh always red.”— Yeates: Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry, p. 61.

Red

applied to gold. Hence a gold watch is a “red kettle.”

“Thou shewst an honest nature; weepst for thy master;

There's a red rogue to buy the handkerchief.”

Beaumont and Fletcher: Mad Lover, v. 4.

Red Basque Cap

The cognisance of Don Carlos, pretender to the Spanish throne.

Red Book

The book which gave account of the court expenditure in France before the Revolution was so called because its covers were red. We have also a “Red Book” in manuscript, containing the names of all those who held lands per baroniam in the reign of Henry II., with other matters pertaining to the nation before the Conquest. (Ryley, 667.)

Red Book of the Exchequer

(The). Liber Rubens Scaccarii in the Record Office. It was compiled in the reign of Henry III. (1246), and contains the returns of the tenants in capitc in 1166, who certify how many knights' fees they hold, and the names of those who hold or held them, also much other matter from the Pipe Rolls and other sources. It has not yet (1895) been printed, but is described in Sims' Manual (p. 41), Thomas's Handbook (p. 255), and in the Record Report of 1837 (pp. 166—177). A separate account of it was printed by Hunter in 1837. It contains the only known fragment of the Pipe Roll of Henry II., and copies of the important Inquisition returned into the exchequer in 13 John. It is not written in red ink. (Communicated by A. Oldham.)

Red Boots

A pair of red boots. A Tartar phrase, referring to a custom of cutting the skin of a victim round the upper part of the ankles, and then stripping it off at the feet. A Tartar will say, “When you come my way again, I will give you a pair of red boots to go home in.”

Red—breasts Bow Street runners, who wore a scarlet waistcoat.

“The Bow Street runners ceased out of the land soon after the introduction of the new police. I remember them very well as standing about the door of the office in Bow Street. They had no other uniform than a blue dress—coat, brass buttons ... and a bright red cloth waistcoat ... The slang name for them was `Red—breasts.”'— Dickens: Letters, vol. ii. p. 178.

Red Button

(A). A mandarin of the first class, whose badge of honour is a red button in his cap.

“An interview was granted to the admiral [Elliot] by Kishen, the imperial commissioner, the third man in the empire, a mandarin of first class and red button.”— Howitt: History of England, 1841, p. 471.

Red Cap

(Mother). An old nurse “at the Hungerford Stairs.” Dame Ursley or Ursula, another nurse, says of her rival—

“She may do very well for skipper's wives, chandlers' daughters, and such like, but nobody shall wait on pretty Mistress Margaret ... excepting and saving myself.”— Sir Walter Scott: Fortunes of Nigel.

Red Coats

in fox—hunting (or scarlet) is a badge of royal livery, fox—hunting being ordained by Henry II. a royal sport.

Red Cock

The red cock will crow in his house. His house will be set on fire.

“`We'll see if the red cock craw not in his bonnie barn—yard ae morning.' `What does she mean?' said Mannering ... `Fire—raising,' answered the ... domine.”— Sir Walter Scott: Guy Mannering, chap. iii.

Red Comyn

Sir John Comyn of Badenoch, son of Marjory, sister of King John Balliol; so called from his ruddy complexion and red hair, to distinguish him from his kinsman “Black Comyn,” whose complexion was swarthy and hair black. He was stabbed by Sir Robert Bruce in the church of the Minorites at Dumfries, and afterwards dispatched by Lindesay and Kirkpatrick.

Red Cross

(The). The badge of the royal banner of England till those of St. Patrick and St. Andrew were added.

“The fall of Rouen (1419) was the fall of the whole province ... and the red cross of England waved on all the towers of Normandy.”— Howitt: History of England, vol. i. p. 545.

Red Cross Knight in Spenser's Faërie Queene, is the impersonation of holiness, or rather the spirit of Christianity. Politically he typifies the Church of England. The knight is sent forth by the queen to slay a dragon which ravaged the kingdom of Una's father. Having achieved this feat, he marries Una (q.v.). (Book i.)

Red Feathers

(The). The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. They cut to pieces General Wayne's brigade in the American War, and the Americans vowed to give them no quarter. So they mounted red feathers that no others might be subjected to this threat. They still wear red puggarees on Indian service. (See Lacedaemonians)

Red Flag

(A). (i) In the Roman empire it signified war and a call to arms. (ii) Hoisted by British seamen, it indicates that no concession will be made. As a railway signal, it intimates danger, and warns the engine—driver to stop. (iii) In France, since 1791, it has been the symbol of insurrection and terrorism. (iv) It is a synonym of Radicalism and Anarchy.

“Mr. Chamberlain sticks to the red flag, and apparently believes in its ultimate success.”— Newspaper paragraph, January, 1886.

Red Hand of Ulster

In an ancient expedition to Ireland, it was given out that whoever first touched the shore should possess the territory which he touched; O'Neill, seeing another boat likely to outstrip his own, cut off his left hand and threw it on the coast. From this O'Neill the princes of Ulster were descended, and the motto of the O'Neills is to this day “Lamh dearg Eirin” (red hand of Erin). (See Hand .)

Red—handed

In the very act; with red blood still on his hand.

“I had some trouble to save him from the fury of those who had caught him red—handed.”— The Times (a correspondent).

Red Hat

(The). The cardinalate.

“David Beatoun was born of good family ... and was raised to a red hat by Pope Paul III.”— Prince: Parallel History, vol. ii. p. 81.

Red Heads

Shiites the second largest branch of Islam, Shiites currently account for 10%–15% of all Muslims. Shiite Islam originated as a political movement supporting Ali (cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam) as the rightful leader of the Islamic state.

Red Herring

(The) of a novel is a hint or statement in the early part of the story to put the reader on the wrong scent. In all detective stories a red herring is trailed across the scent. The allusion is to trailing a red herring on the ground to destroy the scent and set the dogs at fault. A “red herring” is a herring dried and smoked.

Red Herring

Drawing a red herring across the path. Trying to divert attention from the main question by some side—issue. A red herring drawn across a fox's path destroys the scent and sets the dogs at fault.

Neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring. Something insipid and not good eating. Neither one thing nor another.

Red Indians

(of Newfoundland). So called because they daub their skin, garments, canoes, weapons, and almost everything with red ochre.

“Whether it is merely a custom, or whether they daub their skin with red ochre to protect it from the attacks of mosquitos and black—flies, which swarm by myriads in the woods and wilds during the summer, it is not possible to say.”— Lady Blake: Nineteenth Century, Dec. 1888, p. 905.

Red Kettle

(A). Properly a gold watch, but applied, in thieves' slang, to any watch. Gold is often called red, hence “red ruddocks" (gold coin).

Red—laced Jacket

Giving a man a red—laced jacket. Military slang for giving a soldier a flogging.

Red Land

(The). The jurisdiction over which the Vehmgericht of Westphalia extended.

Red—lattice Phrases

Pot—house talk. Red—lattice at the doors and windows was formerly the sign that an alehouse was duly licensed; hence our chequers. In some cases “lattice” has been converted into lettuce, and the colour of the alternate checks changed to green: such a sign used to be in Brownlow Street, Holborn. Sometimes, without doubt, the sign had another meaning, and announced that “tables” were played within; hence Gayton, in his Notes on Don Quixote (p. 340), in speaking of our public—house signs, refers to our notices of “billiards, kettle—noddy—boards, tables, truncks, shovel—boards, fox—and—geese, and the like.” It is quite certain that shops with the sign of the chequers were not uncommon among the Romans. (See a view of the left—hand street of Pompeii, presented by Sir William Hamilton to the Society of Antiquaries.) (See Lattice .)

“I, I, I myself sometimes, leaving the fear of heaven on the left hand, ... am fain to shuffle, to hedge and to lurch; and yet you, rogue, will ensconce your rags ... your red—lattice phrases ... under the shelter of your honour.”— Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, ii. 2.

Red Laws

(The). The civil code of ancient Rome. Juvenal says, “Per lege rubras majoram leges” (Satires, xiv. 193). The civil laws, being written in vermillion, were called rubrica, and rubrica vetavit means, It is forbidden by the civil laws.

The praetor's laws were inscribed in white letters as Quintilian informs us (xii. 3 “proetores edicta sua in albo proponebant"), and imperial rescripts were written in purple.

Red—letter Day

A lucky day; a day to be recalled with delight. In almanacks, saints' days and holidays are printed in red ink, other days in black.

“That day, ... writes the doctor, was truly a red—letter day to me.”— Wauters: Stanley's Emin Expedition, chap. vi. p. 111.

Red Man

The French say that a red man commands the elements, and wrecks off the coast of Brittany those whom he dooms to death. The legend affirms that he appeared to Napoleon and foretold his downfall.

Red Men

W. Hepworth Dixon tells us that the Mormons regard the Red Indians as a branch of the Hebrew race, who lost their priesthood, and with it their colour, intelligence, and physiognomy, through disobedience. In time the wild—olive branch will be restored, become white in colour, and will act as a nation of priests.

(New America, i. 15.)

Red Rag

(The). The tongue. In French, Le chiffon rouge; and balancer le chiffon rouge means to prate.

“Discovering in his mouth a tongue,

He must not his palaver balk;

So keeps it running all day long

And fancies his red rag can talk.”

Peter Pindar: Lord B. and his Motions.

Red Republicans Those extreme republicans of France who scruple not to dye their hands in blood in order to accomplish their political object. They used to wear a red cap. (See Carmagnole .)

Red Rose

(The). One of several badges of the House of Lancaster, but not necessarily the most prominent. It was used by Edmund, Earl of Lancaster (1245—96), called Crouchback, second son of Henry III, and it was one of the badges of Henry IV and Henry V, but it does not appear to have been used by Henry VI. The rose—plucking scene in Shakespeare's Henry VI, PT. I II, iv (1590) ie essentially a fiction.

Red Rose Knight

(The) Tom Thumb or Tom—a—lin. Richard Johnson, in 1597, published a “history of this ever—renowned soldier, the Red Rose Knight, surnamed the Boast of England. ...”

Red Rot

(The). The Sun—dew (q.v.); so called because it occasions the rot in sheep.

Red Sea

The sea of the Red Man— i.e. Edom. Also called the “sedgy sea,” because of the sea—weed which collects there.

Red—shanks

A Highlander; so called from a buskin formerly worn by them; it was made of undressed deer's hide, with the red hair outside.

Red Snow

and Gory Dew. The latter is a slimy damp—like blood which appears on walls. Both are due to the presence of the algae called by botanists Palmella cruenta and Haematococcus sanguineus, which are of the lowest forms of vegetable life.

Red Tape

Official formality; so called because lawyers and government officials tie their papers together with red tape. Charles Dickens introduced the phrase.

“There is a good deal of red tape at Scotland Yard, as anyone may find to his cost who has any business to transact there.”— W. Terrell: Lady Delmar, bk. iii. 2.

Red Tape

Dressing Edward VI.

“First a shirt was taken up by the Chief Equerry—in—Waiting. who passed it to the First Lord of the Buck—hounds.

who passed it to the Second Gentleman of the Bedchamper. who passed it to the Head Ranger of Windsor Forest.

who passed it to the Third Groom of the Stole,

who passed it to the Chancellor Royal of the Duchy of Landcashire, who passed it to the Master of the Wardrobe,

who passed it to Norroy King—of—Arms.

who passed it to the Constable of the Tower,

who passed it to the Chief Steward of the Household,

who passed it to the Hereditary Grand Diaperer,

who passed it to the Lord High Admiral of England.

who passed it to the Archbishop of Canterbury,

who passed it to the First Lord of the Bedchamber,

who put it on the young king.”

Mark Twain: The Prince and the Pauper, p. 143.

Red Tapism

The following is from Truth, Feb. 10th, 1887, p. 207:— There was an escape of gas at Cambridge Barracks, and this is the way of proceeding: The escape was discovered by a private, who reported it to his corporal; the corporal reported it to the colour—sergeant, and the colour—sergeant to the

quartermaster—sergeant. The quartermaster—sergeant had to report it to the quartermaster, and the quartermaster to the colonel commanding the regiment. The colonel had to report it to the commissariat officer in charge of the barracks, and the commissariat officer to the barrack—sergeant, who had to report it to the divisional officer of engineers. This officer had to report it to the district officer of engineers, and he to the clerk of works, Royal Engineers, who sends for a gasman to see if there is an escape, and report back again. While the reporting is going on the barracks are burnt down.

Red Tincture

That preparation which the alchemists thought would convert any baser metal into gold. It is sometimes called the Philosopher's Stone, the Great Elixir, and the Great Magisterium. (See White Tincture .)

Redan' The simplest of fieldworks, and very quickly constructed. It consists simply of two faces and an angle formed thus A, the angle being towards the object of attack. A corruption of redens. (Latin.)

Redder

(The). The adviser, the person who redes or interferes. Thus the proverb, “The redder gets aye the warst lick of the fray.”

“Those that in quarrels interpose

Must wipe themselves a bloody nose.”

Redding—straik

(A). A blow received by a peacemaker, who interferes between two combatants to red or separate them; proverbially, the severest blow a man can receive.

“Said I not to ye, `Make not, meddle not;' beware of the redding—straik?”— Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering, chap. xxvii.

Redgauntlet

The sobriquet of Fitz—Aldin, given him from the great slaughter which he made of the Southron, and his reluctance to admit them to quarter. The sobriquet was adopted by him as a surname, and transmitted to his posterity. A novel by Sir W. Scott. (See chap. viii.)

Redgauntlet

A novel told in a series of letters by Sir Walter Scott. Sir Edward Hugh Redgauntlet, a Jacobite conspirator in favour of the Young Pretender, Charles Edward, is the hero. When George III. was crowned he persuaded his niece, Lilias Redgauntlet, to pick up the glove thrown down by the king's champion. The plot ripened, but when the prince positively refused to dismiss his mistress, Miss Walkinshaw— a sine quâ non with the conspirators— the whole enterprise was given up. General Campbell arrived with the military, the prince left Scotland, Redgauntlet, who embarked with him, became a prior abroad, and Lilias, his niece, married her brother's friend, Allan Fairford, a young advocate.

Redgauntlet (Sir Aberick). An ancestor of the family so called. Sir Edward. Son of Sir Aberick, killed by his father's horse. Sir Robert. An old Tory in Wandering Willie's Tale. He has a favourite monkey called “Major Weir.” Sir John, son and successor of Sir Robert. Sir Redwald, son of Sir John.

Sir Henry Darsic. Son of Sir Redwald. Lady Henry Darsie, wife of Sir Henry Darsie. Sir Arthur Darsie alias Darsie Latimer, son of Sir Henry and the above lady. Miss Lilias alias Greenmantle, sister of Sir Arthur; she marries Allan Fairford.

Sir Edward Hugh. A political enthusiast and Jacobite conspirator, uncle of Sir Arthur Darsie. He appears as “Laird of the Lochs,” “Mr. Herries, of Birrenswork,” and “Mr. Ingoldsby.” “When he frowned, the puckers of his brow formed a horseshoe, the special mark of his race.” (Sir Walter Scott: Redgauntlet.)

Redlaw

(Mr). The haunted man, professor of chemistry in an ancient college. Being haunted, he bargained with his spectre to leave him, and the condition imposed was that Redlaw (go where he would) should give again “the gift of forgetfulness” bestowed by the spectre. From this moment the chemist carried in his touch the infection of sullenness, selfishness, discontent, and ingratitude. On Christmas Day the infection ceased, and all those who had suffered by it were restored to love and gratitude. (Dickens: The Haunted Man.)

Redmain

Magnus, Earl of Northumberland, was so called not from his red or bloody hand, but on account of his long red beard or mane. He was slain in the battle of Sark (1449).

“He was remarkable for his long red beard, and was therefore called by the English Magnus

Red—beard; but the Scotch in derision called him `Magnus with the Red Mane.”'— Godscroft, fol. 178.

Redmond O'Neale Rokeby's page, who is beloved by Rokeby's daughter Matilda. Redmond turns out to be Mortham's son and heir, and marries Matilda. (Sir Walter Scott: Rokeby.)

Reductio ad Absurdum

A proof of inference arising from the demonstration that every other hypothesis involves an absurdity. Thus, suppose I want to prove that the direct road from two given places is the shortest, I should say, “It must either be the shortest or not the shortest. If not the shortest, then some other road is the direct road; but there cannot be two shortest roads, therefore the direct road must be the shortest.”

Reduplicated

or Ricochet Words, of intensifying force. Chit—chat, click—clack, clitter—clatter, dilly—dally,

ding—dong, drip—drop, fal—lal, flim—flam, fiddle—faddle, flip—flop, fliffy—fluffy, flippity—floppity,

handy—pandy, harum—scarum, helter—skelter, heyve—keyve (Hallinvell), hibbledy—hobbledy,

higgledy—piggledy, hob—nob, hodge—podge, hoity—toity, hurly—burly, mish—mash, mixy—maxy (Brockett),

namby—pamby, niddy—noddy, niminy—piminy, nosy—posy, pell—mell, pit—pat, pitter—patter, randem—tandem,

randy—dandy, ribble—rabble, riff—raff, roly—poly, rusty—fusty—crusty, see—saw, shilly—shally, slip—slop,

slish—slosh, snick—snack, spitter—spatter, splitter—splutter, squish—squash, teeny—tiny, tick—tack, tilly—valley, tiny—totty, tip—top, tittle—tattle, toe—toes, wee—wee, wiggle—waggle, widdy—waddy (Halliwell),

widdle—waddle, wibble—wobble, wish—wash, wishy—washy; besides a host of rhyming synonyms, as bawling—squawling, mewling—pewling, whisky—frisky, musty—fusty, gawky—pawky, slippy—sloppy,

rosy—posy, right and tight, wear and tear, high and mighty, etc.; and many more with the Anglo—Saxon letter—rhyme, as safe and sound, jo g—tro t, etc.

Ree

Right. Thus teamers say to a leading horse, “Ree!” when they want it to turn to the right, and “Hey!” for the contrary direction. (Saxon, reht; German, recht; Latin, rectus; various English dialects, reet, whence reetle, “to put to rights.”)

“Who with a hey and res the beasts command.”

Micro—Cynicon (1599).

Riddle me, riddle me ree. Expound my riddle rightly.

Reed

A broken reed. Something not to be trusted for support. Egypt is called a broken reed, to which Hezekiah could not trust if the Assyrians made war on Jerusalem, “which broken reed if a man leans on, it will go into his hand and pierce it.” Reed walking sticks are referred to.

A bruised reed, in Bible language, means a believer weak in grace. A bruised reed [God] will not break.

Reed Shaken by the Wind

(A), in Bible language, means a person blown about by every wind of doctrine. John the Baptist (said Christ) was not a “reed shaken by the wind,” but from the very first had a firm belief in the Messiahship of the Son of Mary, and this conviction was not shaken by fear or favour.

Reef

He must take in a reef or so. He must reduce his expenses; he must retrench. A reef is that part of a sail which is between two rows of eyelet—holes. The object of these eyelet—holes is to reduce the sail reef by reef as it is required.

Reekie

(Auld). Chambers says: “An old patriarchal laird (Durham of Largo) was in the habit of regulating the time of evening worship by the appearance of the smoke of Edinburgh. ... When it increased in density, in consequence of the good folk preparing supper, he would ... say, `It is time noo, bairns, to tak the buiks and gang to our beds, for yonder's auld Reekie, I see, putting on her night—cap.”'

“Yonder is auld Reekie. You may see the smoke hover over her at twenty miles' distance.”— Sir W. Scott: The Abbot, xvii.

Reel Right off the reel. Without intermission. A reel is a device for winding rope. A reel of cotton is a certain quantity wound on a bobbin. (Anglo—Saxon reol.)

Reel

A Scotch dance. (Gaelic, righil.)

“We've been travelling best part of twenty—four hours right off the reel.”— Boldrewood: Robbery under Arms, chap. xxxi.

Reeves Tale

Thomas Wright says that this tale occurs frequently in the jest and story—books of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Boccaccio has given it in the Decameron, evidently from a fabilau, which has been printed in Barbazan under the title of De Gombert et des Deux Clers. Chaucer took the story from another fabliau, which Wrights has given in his Anecdota Literaria, p. 15.

Refresher

A fee paid to a barrister daily in addition to his retaining fee, to remind him of the case intrusted to his charge.

Refreshments

of public men, etc.

BRAHAM'S favourite refreshment was bottled porter. BYRON almost lived on uncanny foods, such as garlic pottage, raw artichokes and vinegar, broths of bitter herbs, saffron biscuits, eggs and lemons.

CATALANI'S favourite refreshment was sweetbreads.

CONTRALTO SINGERS can indulge even in pork and pease—pudding. COOK (G. F.) indulged in everything drinkable.

DISRAELI (Lord Beaconsfield), champagne.

EMERY, cold brandy and water.

GLADSTONE, an egg beaten up in sherry.

HENDERSON, gum arabic and sherry.

INCLEDON (Mrs.), Madeira.

JORDAN (Mrs.), Calves'—foot jelly dissolved in warm sherry. KEAN (Edmund), beef—tea for breakfast; brandy neat.

KEMBLE (both John and Charles), rump—steaks and kidneys. John indulged in opium. LEWIS, oysters and mulled wine.

MALIBRAN, a dozen native oysters and a pint of half—and—half.

SIDDONS (Mrs.), mutton—chops, either neck or chump, and porter. SMITH (William), coffee.

SOPRANOS eschew much butcher's meat, which baritones may indulge in. TENORS rarely indulge in beef—steaks and sirloins.

WOOD (Mrs.), draught porter.

Regale (2 syl.). To entertain like a king. (Latin, regalis, like a king, kingly.)

Regan and Goneril

Two of the daughters of King Lear, and types of unfilial daughters. (Shakespeare: King Lear.)

Regatta

(Italian). Originally applied to the contests of the gondoliers at Venice.

Regent

(The). (See Ships .)

Regent's Park

(London). This park was originally attached to a palace of Queen Elizabeth, but at the beginning of the seventeenth century much of the land was let on long leases, which fell in early in the nineteenth century. The present park was formed under the direction of Mr. Nash, and received its name in compliment to George IV., then Prince Regent.

Regime de la Calotte

Administration of government by ecclesiastics. The calotte is the small skull—cap worn over the tonsure.

Regiment de la Calotte

A society of witty and satirical men in the reign of Louis XIV. When any public character made himself ridiculous, a calotte was sent to him to “cover the bald or brainless part of his noddle.” (See above.)

Regina

(St.), the virgin martyr, is depicted with lighted torches held to her sides, as she stands fast bound to the cross on which she suffered martyrdom.

Regiomontanus

The Latin equivalent of Künigsberger. The name adopted by Johann Müller, the mathematician. (1436—1476.)

Regium Donum

(Latin). An annual grant of public money to the Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist ministers of Ireland. It began in 1672, and was commuted in 1869.

Regius Professor

One who holds in an English university a professorship founded by Henry VIII. Each of the five Regius Professors of Cambridge receives a royally—endowed stipend of about 40. In the universities of Scotland they are appointed by the Crown. The present stipend is about 400 or 500.

Regulars

(The). All the British troops except the militia, the yeomanry, and the volunteers. There are no irregulars in the British army, but such a force exists among the black troops.

Rehoboam

(A). A clerical hat.

“He [Mr. Helstone] was short of stature [and wore] a rehoboam, or shovel hat, which he did not ... remove.”— “Currer Bell”: Shirley, chap. i.

Rehoboam

A rehoboam of claret or rum is a double jeroboam. (2 Chr. xiii. 3.) 1 rehoboam = 2 jeroboams or 32 pints. 1 jeroboam = 2 tappet—hens or 16 pints. 1 tappet—hen = 2 magnums or 8 pints. 1 magnum = 2 quarts or 4 pints.

Reign of Terror

The period in the French Revolution between the fall of the Girondists and overthrow of Robespierre. It lasted 420 days, from May 31st, 1793, to July 27th, 1794.

Reimkennar

(A). A sorceress, a pythoness; one skilled in numbers. Sorcery and Chaldean numbers are synonymous terms. The Anglo—Saxon rimstafas means charms or conjuration, and the Norse reim—kennar

means one skilled in numbers or charms. Norna of the Fitful Head was a Reimkennar, “a controller of the elements.”

Reins

To give the reins. To let go unrestrained; to give licence.

To take the reins. To assume the guidance or direction.

Reins

(The). The kidneys, supposed by the Hebrews and others to be the seat of knowledge, pleasure, and pain. The Psalmist says (xvi. 7), “My reins instruct me in the night season,” i.e. my kidneys, the seat of knowledge, instruct me how to trust in God. Solomon says (Prov. xxiii. 16), “My reins shall rejoice when [men] speak right things,” i.e. truth excites joy from my kidneys; and Jeremiah says (Lam. iii. 13), God “caused His arrows to enter into my reins,” i.e. sent pain into my kidneys. (Latin, ren, a kidney.)

Reldresal

Principal secretary for private affairs in the court of Lilliput, and great friend of Gulliver. When it was proposed to put the Man—Mountain to death for high treason, Reldresal moved as an amendment, that the “traitor should have both his eyes put out, and be suffered to live that he might serve the nation.” (Swift: Gulliver's Travels; Voyage to Lilliput.)

Relics

A writer in the Twentieth Century (1892, article ROME) says: “Some of the most astounding relics are officially shown in Rome, and publicly adored by the highest dignitaries of the Christian Church, with all the magnificence of ecclesiastical pomp and ritual.” The following are mentioned:—

A BOTTLE OF THE VIRGIN'S MILK.

THE CRADLE AND SWADDLING CLOTHES of the infant Jesus. THE CROSS OF THE PENITENT THIEF.

THE CROWN OF THORNS.

THEFINGEROF THOMAS, with which he touched the wound in the side of Jesus. HAIROFTHE VIRGIN MARY.

THE HANDKERCHIEF OF ST. VERON'ICA, on which the face of Jesus was miraculously pictured. HAY OF THE MANGER in which the infant Jesus was laid.

HEADS OF PETER, PAUL, AND MATTHEW.

THE INSCRIPTION set over the cross by the order of Pilate. NAILS used at the crucifixion.

PIECE OF THE CHEMISE of the Virgin Mary.

THE SILVER MONEY given to Judas by the Jewish priests, which he flung into the Temple, and was expended in buying the potters' field as a cemetery for strangers.

THE TABLE on which the soldiers cast lots for the coat of Jesus.

Brady mentions many others, some of which are actually impossibilities, as, for example, a rib of the Verbum caro factum, a vial of the sweat of St. Michael when he contended with Satan, some of the rays of the star which guided the wise men. (See Clavis Calendara, p. 240.)

Relief

(The). In fortification, the general height to which the defensive masses of earth are raised. The directions in which the masses are laid out are called the tracings.

Rem Acu

You have hit the mark; you have hit the nail on the head. Rem acu tetigisti (Plautus). A phrase in archery, meaning, You have hit the white, or the bull's—eye.

“`Rem acu once again,' said Sir Piercie.”— The Monastery, chap. xvi.

Remember

The last injunction of Charles I., on the scaffold, to Bishop Juxon. A probable solution of this mysterious word is given in Notes and Queries (February 24th, 1894, p. 144). The substance is this: Charles, who was really at heart a Catholic, felt persuaded that his misfortunes were a divine visitation on him for retaining the church property confiscated by Henry VIII., and made a vow that if God would restore him to

the throne, he would restore this property to the Church. This vow may be seen in the British Museum. His injunction to the bishop was to remember this vow, and enjoin his son Charles to carry it out. Charles II., however, wanted all the money he could get, and therefore the church lands were never restored.

Remigius

(St.). Rémy, bishop and confessor, is represented as carrying a vessel of holy oil, or in the act of anointing therewith Clovis, who kneels before him. When Clovis presented himself for baptism, Rémy said to him, “Sigambrian, henceforward burn what thou hast worshipped, and worship what thou hast burned.”

(438—533.)

Remis atque Velis

(Latin). With oars and sails. Tooth and nail; with all despatch.

“We were going remis atque velis into the interests of the Pretender, since a Scot had presented a Jacobite at court.”— Sir W. Scott: Redgauntlet (conclusion).

Renaissance

(French). A term applied in the arts to that peculiar style of decoration revived by Raphael, and which resulted from ancient paintings exhumed in the pontificate of Leo X. (16th century). The French Renaissance is a Gothic skeleton with classic details.

Renaissance Period

(The). That period in French history which began with the Italian wars in the reign of Charles VIII. and closed with the reign of Henri II. It was the intercourse with Italy, brought about by the Italian war (1494—1557), which “regenerated” the arts and sciences in France; but as everything was

Italianised— the language, dress, architecture, poetry, prose, food, manners, etc.— it was a period of great false taste and national deformity.

Renard

Une queue de renard. A mockery. At one time a common practical joke was to fasten a fox's tail behind a person against whom a laugh was designed. “Panurge never refrained from attaching a fox's tail or the ears of a leveret, behind a Master of Arts or Doctor of Divinity, whenever he encountered them.”— Rabelais: Gargantua, ii. 16. (See Reynard .)

“Cest une petite vipére

Qui n'epargneroit pas son père,

Et qui par nature ou par art

Scait couper la queue au renard.”

Beaucaire: L'Embarras de la Foire.

Renarder

(French). To vomit, especially after too freely indulging intoxicating drinks. Our word fox means also to be tipsy.

“Il luy visite la machoire,

Quand l'autre luy renarde aux yeux.

Le baume qu'ils venoient de boire

Pour se le rendre a qui mieux mieux.”

Sicur de St. Amant: Chambre de Desbauche.

Renata Renée, daughter of Louis XII. and Anne of Bretagne, married Hercules, second son of Lucretia Borgia and Alphonso.

Renaud

French form of Rinaldo (q.v.).

Renault of Montauban

In the last chapter of the romance of Aymon's Four Sons, Renault, as an act of penance, carries the hods of mortar for the building of St. Peter's, at Cologne.

“Since I cannot improve our architecture, ... I am resolved to do like Renault of Montauhan, and I will wait on the masons. ... As it was not in my good luck to be cut out for one of them. I will live and die the admirer of their divine writings.”— Rabelais: Prologue to Book V. of Pantagruel.

Rendezvous

The place to which you are to repair, a meeting, a place of muster or call. Also used as a verb. (French, rendez, betake; vous, yourself.)

His house is a grand rendezvous of the élite of Paris. The Imperial Guard was ordered to rendezvous in the Champs de Mars.

Rene

(2 syl.). Le bon Roi René. Son of Louis II., Duc d'Anjou, Comte de Provence, father of Margaret of Anjou. The last minstrel monarch, just, joyous, and debonair; a friend to chase and tilt, but still more so to poetry and music. He gave in largesses to knights—errant and mistrels (so says Thiebault) more than he received in revenue. (1408—1480.)

“Studying to promote, as far as possible, the immediate mirth and good humour of his subjects ... he was never mentioned by them excepting as Le bon Roi René, a distinction ... due to him certainly by the qualities of his heart, if not by those of his head.”— Sir Walter Scott: Anne of Geierstein, chap. xxix.

Rene Leblanc

Notary—public of Grand Pré (Nova Scotia), the father of twenty children and 159 grandchildren. (Longfellow: Evangeline.)

Repartee'

properly means a smart return blow in fencing. (French, repartir, to return a blow.)

Repenter Curls

The long ringlets of a lady's hair. Repentir is the French for a penitentiary, and les repentirs are the girls sent there for reformation. Repentir, therefore, is a Lock Hospital or Magdalen. Now, Mary Magdalen is represented to have had such long hair that she wiped off her tears therewith from the feet of Jesus. Hence, Magdalen curls would mean the long hair of a Mary Magdalen made into ringlets.

Reply Churlish

(The). Sir, you are no judge; your opinion has no weight with me. Or, to use Touchstone's illustration: “If a courtier tell me my beard is not well cut, and I disable his judgment, I give him the reply churlish, which is the fifth remove from the lie direct, or rather, the lie direct in the fifth degree.”

Reproof Valiant

(The). Sir, allow me to tell you that is not the truth. To use Touchstone's illustration: “If a courtier tells me my beard is not well cut, and I answer, `That is not true,' I give him the reply valiant, which is the fourth remove from the lie direct, or rather, the lie direct in the fourth degree.”

The reproof valiant, the countercheck quarrelsome, the lie circumstantial, and the lie direct, are not clearly defined by Touchstone. The following, perhaps, will give the distinction required: That is not true; How dare you utter such a falsehood; If you said so, you are a liar; You are a liar, or you lie.

Republican Queen

Sophie Charlotte, wife of Frederick I. of Prussia.

Republicans (See Black .)

Resolute

(The). John Florio, the philologist, tutor to Prince Henry; the Holofernes of Shakespeare. (1545—1625.)

The resolute doctor. John Baconthorp (—1346). The most resolute doctor. Guillaume Durandus de St. Pourcain (—1332).

Rest

(The). A contraction of residue— thus, resid', resit, res't.

Rest on One's Oars

(See Oars .)

Restive

(2 syl.) means inclined to resist, resistive, obstinate or self—willed. It has nothing to do with rest (quiet).

Restorationists

The followers of Origen's opinion that all persons, after a purgation proportioned to their demerits, will be restored to Divine favour and taken to Paradise. Mr. Ballow, of America, has introduced an extension of the term, and maintains that all retribution is limited to this life, and at the resurrection all will be restored to life, joy, and immortality.

Resurrection Men

Grave robbers. First applied to Burke and Hare, in 1829, who rifled graves to sell the bodies for dissection, and sometimes even murdered people for the same purpose.

Resurrection Pie

is made of broken cooked meat. Meat réchauffé is sometimes called “resurrection meat.”

Retiarius

A gladiator who made use of a net, which he threw over his adversary.

“As in thronged amphitheatre of old

The wary Retiarius trapped his foe.”

Thomson: Castle of Indolence, canto ii.

Retort Courteous

(The). Sir, I am not of your opinion: I beg to differ from you: or, to use Touchstone's illustration, “If I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind it was.” The lie seven times removed; or rather, the lie direct in the seventh degree.

Reuben Dixon

A village school—master “of ragged lads.”

“Mid noise, and dirt, and stench, and play, and prate,

He calmly cuts the pen or views the slate.”

Crabbe: Borough, letter xxiv.

Reveille

[re—vay'—ya]. The beat of drum at daybreak to warn the sentries that they may forbear from challenging, as the troops are awake. (French, réveiller, to awake.)

Revenons a nos Moutons

Return we to our subject. The phrase is taken from an old French play, called L' Avocat, by Patelin, in which a woolendraper charges a shepherd with stealing sheep. In telling his grievance he kept for ever running away from his subject; and to throw discredit on the defendant's attorney, accused him of stealing a piece of cloth. The judge had to pull him up every moment with, “Mais, mon ami, revenons à nos moutons ” (What about the sheep, tell me about the sheep, now return to the story of the sheep).

Reverend

An archbishop is the Most Reverend [Father in God]; a bishop, the Right Reverend; a dean, the Very Reverend; an archdeacon, the Venerable; all the rest of the clergy, the Reverend.

Revetments

in fortifications. In “permanent fortification” the sides of ditches supported by walls of masonry are so called. (See Counterforts .)

Review The British Review was nicknamed “My Grandmother.” In Don Juan, Lord Byron says, he bribed “My Grandmother's Review, the British.” The editor took this in dudgeon and gave Byron the lie, but the poet turned the laugh against the reviewer.

“Am I flat, I tip `My Grandmother' a bit of prose.”— Noctes Ambrosiance.

Revise

(2 syl.). The second proof—sheet submitted to an author or “reader.”

“I at length reached a vaulted room, ... and beheld, seated by a lamp and employed in reading a blotted revise ... the author of Waverley.”— Sir Walter Scott: Fortunes of Nigel

(Introduction).

Revival of Letters in England

dates from the commencement of the eleventh century.

Revival of Painting and Sculpture

began with Niccola Pisano, Giunta, Cimabue, and Giotto (2 syl.).

Revoke

(2 syl.). When a player at cards can follow suit, but plays some other card, he makes a revoke, and by the laws of whist the adversaries are entitled to score three points.

“Good heaven! Revoke? Remember, if the set

Be lost, in honour you should pay the debt.”

Crabbe: Borough.

Revulsion

(in philosophy). Part of a substance set off and formed into a distinct existence; as when a slip is cut from a tree and planted to form a distinct plant of itself. Tertullian the Montanist taught that the second person of the Trinity was a revulsion of the Father. (Latin, revulsio, re—vello, to pull back.)

Rewe

A roll or slip; as Ragman's Rewe. (See Ragman .)

“There is a whole world of curious history contained in the phrase `ragman's rewe,' meaning a list, roll, catalogue, ... charter, scroll of any kind. In Piers Piowman's Vision it is used for the pope's bull.”— Edinburgh Review, July, 1870.

“In Fescenium was first invented the joylitee of mynstrelsie and syngyng merrie songs for makyng laughter, hence called `Fescennia Carmina,' which I translate a `Ragman's Rewe' or Bible.”— Ud. ill.

Reynard the Fox

The hero in the beast—epic of the fourteenth century. This prose poem is a satire on the state of Germany in the Middle Ages. Reynard typifies the church; his uncle, Isengrin the wolf, typifies the baronial element; and Nodel the lion, the regal. The word means deep counsel or wit. (Gothic, raginohart, cunning in counsel; Old Norse, hreinn and ard; German, reincke.) Reynard is commonly used as a synonym of fox.

(Heinrich von Alkmaar.)

“Where prowling Reynard trod his nightly round.”

Bloomfield: Farmer's Boy.

Reynard the Fox. Professedly by Hinreck van Alckmer, tutor of the Duke of Lorraine. This name is generally supposed to be a pseudonym of Hermann Barkhusen, town clerk and book printer in Rostock. (1498.)

False Reynard. So Dryden describes the Unitarians in his Hind and Panther. (See Renard.)

“With greater guile

False Reynard fed on consecrated spoil;

The graceless beast by Athanasius first

Was chased from Nice, then by Socinus nursed.” Part i. 51—54.

Reynardine

(3 syl.). The eldest son of Reynard the Fox, who assumed the names of Dr. Pedanto and Crabron. (Reynard the Fox.)

Reynold of Montalbon

One of Charlemagne's knights and paladins.

Rezio

Dr. Rezio or Pedro Rezio of Aguero. The doctor of Barataria, who forbade Sancho Panza to taste any of the meats set before him. Roasted partridge was forbidden by Hippocrates; podrida was the most pernicious food in the world; rabbits are a sharp—haired diet; veal is prejudicial to health; but the governor might eat a “few wafers, and a thin slice or two of quince.” (Don Quixote, part ii. book iii. chap. 10.)

Rhadamanthos

One of the three judges of hell; Minos and AEacos being the other two. (Greek mythology.)

Rhampsinitos The Greek form of Rameses Ill., the richest of the Egyptian king, who amassed seventy—seven millions sterling, which he secured in a treasury of stone, but by an artifice of the builder he was robbed every night.

Herodotos (bk. ii. chap. 121) tells us that two brothers were the architects of the treasury, and that they placed in the wall a removable stone, through which they crept every night to purloin the store. The king, after a time, noticed the diminution, and set a trap to catch the thieves. One of the brothers was caught in the trap, but the other brother, to prevent detection, cut off his head and made good his escape.

This tale is almost identical with that of Trophonios, told by Pausanias. Hyrieus (3 syl.) a Boeotian king employed Trophonios and his brother to build him a treasury. In so doing they also contrived to place in the wall a removable stone, through which they crept nightly to purloin the king's stores. Hyrieus also set a trap to catch the thief, and one of the brothers was caught; but Trophonios cut off his head to prevent detection, and made good his escape. There cannot be a doubt that the two tales are in reality one and the same.

Rhapsody

means songs strung together. The term was originally applied to the books of the Iliad and Odyssey, which at one time were in fragments. Certain bards collected together a number of the fragments, enough to make a connected “ballad,” and sang them as our minstrels sang the deeds of famous heroes. Those bards who sang the Iliad wore a red robe, and those who sang the Odyssey a blue one. Pìsistratos of Athens had all these fragments carefully compiled into their present form (Greek rapto, to sew or string together; ode, a song.)

Rhene

(1 syl.). The Rhine. (Latin, Rhenus.)

“To pass

Rhene or the Danaw [Danube].”

Milton: Paradise Lost, bk. i. 353.

Rhine

or Rhineland. The country of Gunther, King of Burgundy, is so called in the Nibelungen—Lied.

“Not a lord of Rhineland could follow where he flew.”

Lettsom's Nibelungen—Lied, st. 210.

Rhino

Ready money. (See Nose .) May not this explain the phrase “paying through the nose” (par le nez), that is, paying ready rhino. Rhino = money is very old.

“Some, as I know,

Have parted with their ready rhino.”

The Seaman's Adieu (1670).

Rhodalind

A princess famous for her “knightly” deads; she would have been the wife of Gondibert, but he wisely preferred Birtha, a country girl, the daughter of the sage Astragon.

Rhodian Bully

(The). The colossus of Rhodes.

“Yet fain wouldst thou the crouching world bestride

Just like the Rhodian bully o'er the tide.”

Peter Pindar: The Lusiad, canto 2.

Rhodian Law

The earliest system of marine law known to history; compiled by the Rhodians about 900 B.C.

Rhone

The Rhone of Christian cloquence. St. Hillary; so called from the vehemence of his style. (300—368.)

Rhopalic Verse (wedge—verse). A line in which each successive word has more syllables than the one preceding it (Greek, rhopalon, a club, which from the handle to the top grows bigger.)

Rem tibi confeci, doctissime, dulcisonorum.

Spes deus aeternae—est stationis conciliator.

Hope ever solaces miserable individuals.

Rhyme

Neither rhyme nor reason. Fit neither for amusement nor instruction. An author took his book to Sir Thomas More, chancellor in the reign of Henry VIII, and asked his opinion. Sir Thomas told the author to turn it into rhyme. He did so, and submitted it again to the lord chancellor. “Ay! ay!” said the witty satirist, “that will do, that will do. 'Tis rhyme now, but before it was neither rhyme nor reason.”

Rhymer

Thomas the Rhymer. Thomas Learmount, of Ercildoune, who lived in the thirteenth century. This was quite a different person to Thomas Rymer, the historiographer royal to William III. (who flourished 1283). (See True Thomas .)

Rhyming to Death

The Irish at one time believed that their children and cattle could be “eybitten,” that is, bewitched by an evil eye, and that the “eybitter,” or witch could “rime” them to death. (R. Scott: Discovery of Witch—craft.) (See Rats .)

Ribaldry

is the language of a ribald. (French, ribaud; Old French, ribaudie; Italian, ribalderia, the language of a vagabond or rogue.)

Ribbon Dodge

(The). Plying a person secretly with threatening letters in order to drive him out of the neighbourhood, or to compel him to do something he objects to. The Irish Ribbon men sent threatening letters or letters containing coffins, cross—bones, or daggers, to obnoxious neighbours.

Ribbonism

A Catholic association organised in Ireland about 1808. Its two main objects were (1) to secure

“fixity of tenure,” called the tenant—right; and (2) to deter anyone from taking land from which a tenant has been ejected. The name arises from a ribbon worn as a badge in the button—hole.

Ribston Pippin

So called from Ribston, in Yorkshire, where Sir Henry Goodricke planted three pips, sent to him from Rouen, in Normandy. Two pips died, but from the third came all the Ribston apple—trees in England.

Ricardo

in the opera of I Puritani, is Sir Richard Forth, a Puritan, commander of Plymouth fortress. Lord Walton promised to give him his daughter Elvira in marriage, but Elvira had engaged her affections to Lord Arthur Talbot, a Cavalier, to whom ultimately she was married.

Ricciardetto

Son of Agmon and brother of Bradamante. (Ariosto: Orlando Furioso.)

Rice Christians

Converts to Christianity for worldly benefits, such as a supply of rice to Indians. Profession of Christianity born of lucre, not faith.

Rice thrown after a Bride

It was an Indian custom, rice being, with the Hindus, an emblem of fecundity. The bridegroom throws three handfuls over the bride, and the bride does the same over the bridegroom. With us the rice is thrown by neighbours and friends. (See Marriage Knot .)

Rich as Croesus

Croesus, King of Lydia, was so rich and powerful that all the wise men of Greece were drawn to his court, and his name became proverbial for wealth. (B.C. 560—546.)

Rich as a Jew This expression arose in the Middle Ages, when Jews were almost the only merchants, and were certainly the most wealthy of the people. There are still the Rothschilds among them, and others of great wealth.

Richard Coeur de Lion

The bogie with which nurses in Languedoc terrify unruly children.

“His tremendous name was employed by the Syrian mothers to silence their infants; and if a horse suddenly started from the way, his rider was wont to exclaim, `Dost thou think King Richard is in the bush?”'— Gibbon: Decline and Fall, etc., xi. 146.

Richard II.'s Horse

Roan Barbary. (See Horse .)

“Oh, how it yearned my heart when I beheld

In London streets, that coronation day,

When Bolingbroke rode on roan Barbary,

That horse that hou so often hast bestrid,

That horse that I so carefully have dressed.”

Shakespeare: Richard II., v. 5.

Richard III.'s Horse

White Surrey (See Horse .)

“Saddle White Surrey for the field to—morrow.”

Shakespeare: Richard III., v. 8.

Richard Roe

(1 syl.). John Doe and Richard Roe. Any plaintiff and defendant in an action of ejectment. They were sham names used at one time to save certain “niceties of law;” but the clumsy device was abolished in 1852. Any mere imaginary persons, or men of straw. John Doe, Richard Roe, John o' Noakes, and Tom Styles are the four' sons of “Mrs. Harris,” all bound apprentices to the legal profession.

Richard is Himself again

These words are not in Shakespeare's Richard III., but were interpolated from Colley Cibber by John Kemble.

Richard of Cirencester

Sometimes called “The Monk of Westminster,” an early English chronicler. His chronicle On the Ancient State of Britain was first brought to light by Dr. Charles Julius Bertram, professor of English at Copenhagen in 1747; but the original (like the original of Macpherson's Ossian and of Joe Smith's Book of Mormon) does not exist, and grave suspicion prevails that all three are alike forgeries. (See Sanchoniatho.)

Richarda

wife of Nicholas d'Este. A widow who, with her son Hercules, was dispossessed of her inheritance by Lionello and Borso. Both were obliged to go into exile, but finally Hercules recovered his lordship.

Richborough, Richeboro'

or Ratesburgh (a Roman fort in the time of Claudius), called by Alfred of Beverley, Richberge; by the Saxons (according to Bede) Reptacester, and by others Ruptimuth; by Orosius, the port and city of Rhutubus; by Ammianus, Rhutupiae Statio; by Antoninus, Rhitupis Portus; by Tacitus, Portus Trutulensis for Rhutupensis; by Ptolemy, Rhutupiae. (Camden.)

Rick Mould

This is an April fool joke transferred to hay—harvest. The joke is this: some greenhorn is sent a good long distance to borrow a rickmould, with strict injunction not to drop it. The lender places something very heavy in a sack or bag, which he hoists on the greenhorn's back. He carries it carefully in the hot sun to the hayfield, and gets well laughed at for his pains.

Rickety Stock

Stock bought or sold for a man of straw. If the client cannot pay, the broker must.

Ricochet

[rikko—shay]. Anything repeated over and over again. The fabulous bird that had only one note was called the ricochet; and the rebound on water termed ducks and drakes has the same name. Marshal Vauban

(1633—1707) invented a battery of rebound called the ricochet battery, the application of which was ricochet firing.

Riddle

Josephus relates how Hiram, King of Tyre, and Solomon had once a contest in riddles, when Solomon won a large sum of money; but he subsequently lost it to Abdemon, one of Hiram's subjects.

Riddle. Plutarch states that Homer died of chagrin because he could not solve a certain riddle. (See Sphinx.) Father of riddles. So the AbbéCotin dubbed himself, but posterity has not confirmed his right to the title.

(1604—1682.) (See Ree.)

Riddle of Claret

(A). Thirteen bottles, a magnum and twelve quarts. So called because in golf matches the magistrates invited to the celebration dinner presented to the club a “riddle of claret,” sending it in a riddle or sieve.

Ride

To ride abroad with St. George, but at home with St. Michael; said of a hen—pecked braggart. St. George is represented as riding on a war charger whither he listed; St. Michael, on a dragon. Abroad a man rides, like St. George, on a horse which he can control and govern; but at home he has “a dragon” to manage, like St. Michael. (French.)

Ride for a Fall

(To). To ride a race and lose it intentionally.

“There were not wanting people who said that government had `ridden for a fall,' in their despair of carrying out their policy.”— Newspaper paragraph, November, 1885.

Ride up Holborn Hill (To). To go to the gallows.

“I shall live to see you ride up Holborn Hill.”— Congreve: Love for Love.

Rider

An addition to a manuscript, like a codicil to a will; an additional clause tacked to a bill in parliament; so called because it over—rides the preceding matter when the two come into collision.

“Perhaps Mr. Kenneth will allow ine to add the following as a rider to his suggestion.”— Notes and Queries, “M.N.”

Riderhood

(Rogue). The villain in Dickens's Our Mutual Friend.

Ridicule

(Father of). Francois Rabelais (1495—1553).

Riding

[of Yorkshire]. Same as trithing in Lincolnshire; the jurisdiction of a third part of a county, under the government of a reeve (sheriff). The word ding or thing is Scandinavian, and means a legislative assembly; hence the great national diet of Norway is still called a stor—thing (great legislative assembly), and its two chambers are the lag—thing (law assembly) and the odels—thing (freeholders' assembly). Kent was divided into laths, Sussex into rapes, Lincoln into parts. The person who presided over a trithing was called the trithing—man; he who presided in the lath was called a lath—grieve.

Ridolphus

(in Jerusalem Delivered). One of the band of adventurers that joined the Crusaders. He was slain by Argantes (bk. vii.).

Ridotto

(Italian). An assembly where the company is first entertained to music, and then joins in dancing. The word originally meant music reduced to a full score. (Latin, reductus.)

Rienzi

(Nicolò Gabrini). The Reformer at Rome (1313—1354). Bulwer Lytton (Lord Lytton) has a novel called Rienzi, and Wagner an opera.

Rif

or Rifle (French). Avoir rifle et rafle. To have everything. Also, the negative, N'avoir ni rif ni raf (to have nothing).

“Helas! j'ai goute miseraigne,

J'ai rifle et rafle, et roigne et taigne.”

Les Miracles de Ste. Geneviène

Riff—raff

The offscouring of society, or rather, “refuse and sweepings.” Rief is Anglo—Saxon, and means a rag; Raff is also Anglo—Saxon, and means sweepings. (Danish, rips—raps.) The French have the expression “Avoir rifle et rafle,” meaning to have everything; whence radoux (one who has everything), and the phrase “Il n'a laissé ni rif ni raf” (he has left nothing behind him).

“I have neither ryff nor ruff [rag to cover me nor roof over my head].”— Sharp: Coventry Myst., p. 224.

“Ilka man agayne his gud he gaffe

That he had tane with ryfe and raffe.

Quoted by Halliwell in his Archaic Dictionary.

Rifle

is from the German reifeln (to hollow into tubes). In 1851 the French minié rifle was partially supplied to the British army. In 1853 it was superseded by the Enfield rifle, which has three grooves. Sir William

Armstrong's gun, which has numerous small sharp grooves, was adopted by the government in 1859. The Whitworth gun has a polygonal bore, with a twist towards the muzzle. (“Rifle” is Norwegian for a groove or flute.

Rifles are either “breech—loaders” or “magazine rifles" Breech—loading rifles load at the breech instead of at the muzzle; magazine rifles are those which contain a chamber with extra cartridges.

The chief breech—loading rifles are the Ballard, the Berdan, the Chaffee, the Chassepot (a French needle—gun, 1870—1871), the Flobert—Gras (an improved Chassepot, 1874—1880), the Greene, the Hall, the Minie—Henry (Great Britain, 1890), the Maxim, the Magnard, the Minie the Morgensten, the Peabody, the Peabody—Martini (Turkey), the Scott, the Sharp, the Springfield (United States, 1893), the Werder (Bavaria, the Werndi, the Whittemore, the Westley—Richards, and the Winchester.

The magazine or repeating—rifles are also very numerous. The best known to the general public are Colt's revolver and the Winchester repeating—rifle of 1892. They are of three classes: (1) those in which the magazine is in the stock; (2) those in which the magazine is a tube parallel with the barrel (as in Colt's revolver); and (3) those in which the magazine is either a fixed or detachable box near, the lock. The once famous Enfield rifle was loaded at the muzzle. In Spencer's rifle the magazine was in the stock.

Rift in the Lute

(A). A small defect which mars the general result.

“Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.

It is the little rift within the lute

That by—and—by will make the music mute,

And eyer widening, slowly silence all.”

Tennyson: Merlin and Vivien; Vivien's Song, verses 1, 2.

Rig

A piece of fun, a practical joke. The Scotch say of a man who indulges in intoxication, “He goes the rig.” The same word is applied in Scotland to a certain portion or division of a field. A wanton used to be called a rig. (French, se rigoler, to make merry.)

“He little thought when he set out

Of running such a rig.”

Cowper: John Gilpin.

Rig. To dress; whence rigged out, to rig oneself, to rig a ship, well—rigged, etc. (Anglo—Saxon, wrigan, to dress; hraegl, a garment.)

“Jack was rigged out in his gold and silver lace, with a feather in his cap.”— L'Estrange.

Rig—Marie

Base coin. The word originated from one of the billon coins struck in the reign of Queen Mary, which bore the words Reg. Maria as part of the legend.

Billon is mixed metal for coinage, especially silver largely alloyed with copper.

Rigadoon

A French figure—dance invented by Isaac Rigadon.

“And Isaac's Rigadoon shall live as long

As Raphael's painting, or as Virgil's song.”

Jenyns: Art of Dancing, canto ii.

Rigdum Funnidos

in Carey's burlesque of Chrononhotonthologos.

Rigdum Funnidos. A sobriquet given by Sir Walter Scott to John Ballantyne, his publisher. So called because he was full of fun. (1776—1821.)

“A quick, active, intrepid little fellow, ... full of fun and merriment, ... all over quaintness and humorous mimicry, ... a keen and skilful devotee of all manner of field—sports from

fox—hunting to badger—baiting inclusive.”— Lockhart.

Right Foot

Put the shoe on the right foot first. The twelfth symbol of the Protreptics of Iamblichus. This audition is preserved in our word “awkward,” which means “left—handed” (awke, the left hand), seen also in the French gauche. Pythagoras meant to teach that his disciples should walk discreetly and wisely, not basely and feebly or gauchely.

Right Foot Foremost

In Rome a boy was stationed at the door of a mansion to caution visitors not to cross the threshold with their left foot, which would have been an ill omen.

Right Hand

The right—hand side of the Speaker, meaning the Ministerial benches. In the French Legislative Assembly the right meant the Monarchy men. In the National Convention the Girondists were called the right hand, because they occupied the Ministerial benches.

Right as a Trivet

The trivet is a metallic plate—stand with three legs. Some fasten to the fender and are designed to hold the plate of hot toast, etc. (Anglo—Saxon, thryfot, three—foot, tripod.)

Right of Way

(The). The legal right to make use of a certain passage whether high—road, by—road, or private road. Watercourses, ferries, rivers, etc., are included in the word “ways.” Private right of way may be claimed by immemorial usage, special permission, of necessity; but a funeral cortège or bridal party having passed over a certain field does not give to the public the right of way, as many suppose.

Rights

Declaration of Rights. An instrument submitted to William and Mary, on their being called to the throne, setting forth the fundamental principles of the constitution. The chief items are these: The Crown cannot levy taxes, nor keep a standing army in times of peace; the Members of Parliament are free to utter their thoughts, and a Parliament is to be convened every year; elections are to be free, trial by jury is to be inviolate, and the right of petition is not to be interfered with.

Riglet

A thin piece of wood used for stretching the canvas of pictures; and in printing to regulate the margin, etc. (French, reglet, a rule or regulator; Latin, regula, a rule.)

Rigol

A circle or diadem. (Italian, rigolo, a little wheel.)

“[Sleep] That from this golden rigol hath divorced

So many English kings.”

Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV., iv. 4.

Rigolette

(3 syl.). A grisette, a courtesan; so called from Rigolette, in Eugène Sue's Mysteries of Paris.

Rigoletto

An opera describing the agony of a father obliged to witness the prostitution of his own child. The libretto is borrowed from the drama called Le Roi s'Amuse, by Victor Hugo; the music is by Guiseppe Verdi.

Rigwoodie

Unyielding; stubborn. A rigwiddie is the chain which crosses the back of a horse to hold up the shafts of a cart (rig = back, withy = twig.)

“Withered beldams, auld and droll,

Rigwoodie hags.”

Burns: Tam O'Shanter.

Rile

Don't rile the water. Do not stir up the water and make it muddy. The water is riled— muddy and unfit to drink. Common Norfolk expressions; also, a boy is riled (out of temper). I'sy, together, Joe Smith was regularly riled, is quite Norfolk. The American roil has the same meaning. A corruption of [em]broil. (French, brouiller; our broil.) The adjective rily, turbid, angry, is more common.

Rimer

Chief god of Damascus; so called from the word rime, a “pomegranate,” because he held a pomegranate in his right hand. The people bore a pomegranate in their coat armour. The Romans called this

god Jupiter Cassius, from Mount Cassius, near Damascus.

Rimfaxi

[Frost—mane]. The horse of Night, the foam of whose bit causes dew. (Scandinavian mythology.)

Rimmon

A Syrian god, whose seat was Damascus.

“Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat

Was fair Damascus, on the fertile bank

Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streaurs.”

Milton: Paradise Lost, bk. i. 467.

Rimthursar

Brother of Y'mer. They were called the “Evil Ones.” (Scandinavian mythology.)

Rinaldo

(in Jerusalem Delivered). The Achilles of the Christian army. “He despises gold and power, but craves renown” (bk. i.). He was the son of Bertoldo and Sophia, and nephew of Guelpho, but was brought up by Matilda. At the age of fifteen he ran away and joined the Crusaders, where he was enrolled in the adventurers' squadron. Having slain Gernando, he was summoned by Godfrey to public trial, but went into voluntary exile. The pedigree of Rinaldo, of the noble house of Este, is traced from Actius on the male side and Augustus on the female to Actius VI. (bk. xvii.).

Rinaldo (in Orlando Furioso). Son of the fourth Marquis d'Este, cousin of Orlando, Lord of Mount Auban or Albano, eldest son of Amon or Aymon, nephew of Charlemagne, and Bradamant's brother. He was the rival of his cousin Orlando, but Angelica detested him. He was called “Clarmont's leader,” and brought an auxiliary force of English and Scotch to Charlemagne, which “Silence” conducted into Paris.

Rinaldo or Renaud, one of the paladins of Charlemagne, is always painted with the characteristics of a border— valiant, ingenious, rapacious, and unscrupulous.

Ring

If a lady or gentleman is willing to marry, but not engaged, a ring should be worn on the index finger of the left hand; if engaged, on the second finger; if married, on the third finger; but if either has no desire to marry, on the little finger. (Mme, C. de la Tour. )

A ring worn on the forefinger indicates a haughty, bold, and overbearing spirit; on the long finger, prudence, dignity, and discretion; on the marriage finger, love and affection; on the little finger, a masterful spirit.

Ring given in marriage, because it was anciently used as a seal, by which orders were signed (Gen. xxxviii. 18; Esther iii. 10—12); and the delivery of a ring was a sign that the giver endowed the person who received it with all the power he himself possessed (Gen. xli. 42). The woman who had the ring could issue commands as her husband, and was in every respect his representative.

“In the Roman espousals, the man gave the woman a ring by way of pledge, and the woman put it on the third finger of her left hand, because it was believed that a nerve ran from that finger to the heart.”— Macrobius: Sat. vii. 15.

Ring

The Ring and the Book. An idyllic epic by Robert Browning, founded on a cause célèbre of Italian history (1698). Guido Franceschini, a Florentine nobleman of shattered fortune, by the advice of his brother, Cardinal Paulo, marries Pompilia, an heiress, to repair his state. Now Pompilia was only a supposititious child of Pietro, supplied by Violante for the sake of preventing certain property from going to an heir not his own. When the bride discovered the motive of the bridegroom, she revealed to him this fact, and the first trial occurs to settle the said property. The count treats his bride so brutally that she quits his roof under the protection of Caponsacchi, a young priest, and takes refuge in Rome. Guido follows the fugitives and arrests them at an inn; a trial ensues, and a separation is permitted. Pompilia pleads for a divorce, but, pending the suit, gives birth to a son at the house of her putative parents. The count, hearing thereof, murders Pietro, Violante, and Pompilia; but, being taken red—handed, is executed.

Ring (The). The space set apart for prize—fighters, horse—racing, etc. So called because the spectators stand round in a ring.

Ring

To make a ring. To combine in order to control the price of a given article. Thus, if the chief merchants of any article (say salt, flour, or sugar) combine, they can fix the selling price, and thus secure enormous profits.

Ring

It has the true ring— has intrinsic merit; bears the mark of real talent. A metaphor taken from the custom of judging genuine money by its “ring” or sound. Ring, a circlet, is the Anglo—Saxon hring; ring, to sound a bell, etc., is the verb hring—an.

Ring Down

Conclude, end at once. A theatrical phrase, alluding to the custom of ringing a bell to give notice for the fall of the curtain. Charles Dickens says, “It is time to ring down on these remarks.” (Speech at the Dramatic Fête.)

Ring Finger

Priests used to wear their ring on the fore—finger (which represents the Holy Ghost) in token of their spiritual office. (See Wedding Finger .)

The ring finger represents the humanity of Christ, and is used in matrimony, which has only to do with humanity. (See Finger Benediction.)

Ring finger. Aulus Gellius tells us that Appianus asserts in his Egyptian books that a very delicate nerve runs from the fourth finger of the left hand to the heart, on which account this finger is used for the marriage ring. (Noctes, x. 10.)

The fact has nothing to do with the question; that the ancients believed it is all we require to know. In the Roman Catholic Church, the thumb and first two fingers represent the Trinity: thus the bridegroom says, “In the name of the Father,” and touches the thumb; “in the name of the Son,” and touches the first finger; and “in the name of the Holy Ghost” he touches the long or second finger. The next finger is the husband's, to whom the woman owes allegiance next to God. The left hand is chosen to show that the woman is to be subject to the man. In the Hereford, York, and Salisbury missals, the ring is directed to be put first on the thumb, then on the first finger, then on the long finger, and lastly on the ring—finger, quia in illo digito est quadam vena procedens usque ad cor.

The ring finger. Mr. Henry Swinburne, in his Treatise of Spousals, printed 1680 (p. 208), says: “The finger on which this ring [the wedding—ring] is to be worn is the fourth finger of the left hand, next unto the little finger; because by the received opinion of the learned ... in ripping up and anatomising men's bodies, there is a vein of blood, called vena amoris, which passeth from that finger to the heart.”

Ring Posies

or mottoes. (1) A E I (Greek for “Always"). (2) For ever and for aye. (3) In thee, my choice, I do rejoice, (4) Let lcye increase. (5) May God above Increase our love. (6) Not two but one, Till life is gone. (7) My heart and I, Until I die. (8) When this you see, Then think of me. (9) Love is heaven, and heaven is love. (10) Wedlock, 'tis said, In heaven is made.

Right to wear a gold ring. Amongst the Romans, only senators, chief magistrates, and in later times knights, enjoyed the jus annuli aurei. The emperors conferred the right upon whom they pleased, and Justinian extended the privilege to all Roman citizens.

Ring a Ding—ding

Ring a ding—ding, ring a ding—ding! The Parliament soldiers are gone to the king; Some they did laugh, and some they did cry, To see the Parliament soldiers go by.”

The reference is to the several removals of Charles I. from one place of captivity to another, till finally he was brought to the block. The Parliament party laughed at their success, the Royalists wept to see the king thus treated.

Ring in the Ear

A sign of slavery of life—long servitude.

“Then Eldad took an awl, and, piercing his [Jetur's] ears against the doorpost, made him his servant for ever. The elders pronounced a blessing, and Eldad put a ring through the ears of Jetur, as a sign that he was become his property.”— Eldad the Pilgrim, chap. i.

Ring of Invisibility

(The), which belonged to Otnit, King of Lombardy, given to him by the queen—mother when he went to gain in marriage the soldan's daughter. The stone of the ring had the virtue of directing the wearer the right road to take in travelling. (The Heldenbuch. ) (See Gyges' Ring .)

Ring One's Own Bell

(To). To be one's own trumpeter. Bells are rung to announce any joyous event, or the advent of some celebrity.

Rings Noted in Fable

Agramant's ring. This enchanted ring was given by Agramant to the dwarf Brunello, from whom it was stolen by Bradamant and given to Melissa. It passed successively into the hands of Rogero and Angelica (who carried it in her mouth). (Orlando Furioso, bk. v.)

The ring of Amasis. The same as the ring of Polycrate (q.v.).

The Doge's ring. The doge of Venice, on Ascension Day, used to throw a ring into the sea from the ship Bucentaur, to denote that the Adriatic was subject to the republic of Venice as a wife is subject to her husband.

The ring of Edward the Confessor. It is said that Edward the Confessor was once asked for alms by an old man, and gave him his ring. In time some English pilgrims went to the Holy Land, and happened to meet the same old man, who told them he was John the Evangelist, and gave them the identical ring to take to “Saint” Edward. It was preserved in Westminster Abbey.

The ring of Gyges (2 syl.) rendered the wearer invisible when its stone was turned inwards. The ring of Ogier, given him by the Morgue de Fay. It removed all infirmities, and restored the aged to youth again. (See Ogier.)

Polycrates' ring was flung into the sea to propitiate Nemesis, and was found again by the owner inside a fish. (See Glasgow Arms.)

The ring of Pope Innocent. On May 29th, 1205, Pope Innocent III. sent John, King of England, four gold rings set with precious stones, and in his letter says the gift is emblematical. He thus explains the matter: The

rotundity signifies eternity— remember we are passing through time into eternity. The number signifies the four virtues which make up constancy of mind— viz. “justice, fortitude, prudence, and temperance.” The material signifies “wisdom from on high,” which is as gold purified in the fire. The green emerald is emblem of “faith,” the blue sapphire of “hope,” the red garnet of “charity,” and the bright topaz of “good works.”

(Rymer: Foedera, vol. i. 139.)

Reynard's wonderful ring. This ring, which existed only in the brain of Reynard, had a stone of three colours— red, white, and green. The red made the night as clear as the day; the white cured all manner of diseases; and the green rendered the wearer of the ring invincible. (Reynard the Fox, chap. xii.)

He must have got possession of Reynard's ring. He bore a charmed life; he was one of Nature's favourites; all he did prospered. Reynard affirmed that he had sent King Lion a ring with three gems— one red, which gave light in darkness; one white, which cured all pains and wounds, even those arising from indigestion and fever; and one green, which guarded the wearer from every ill both in peace and war. (Alkmar: Reynard the Fox, 1498.)

Solomon's ring, among other wonderful things, sealed up the refractory Jins in jars, and cast them into the Red Sea.

Ringing Changes

Bantering each other; turning the tables on a jester. The allusion is to bells. (See Peal .)

Ringing the Changes

A method of swindling by changing gold and silver in payment of goods. For example: A man goes to a tavern and asks for two—pennyworth of whisky. He lays on the counter half a sovereign, and receives nine shillings and tenpence in change. “Oh!” (says the man) “give me the half—sovereign back, I have such a lot of change.” He then takes up ten shillings in silver and receives back the half—sovereign. The barmaid is about to take up the silver when the man says, “Give me a sovereign in lieu of this half—sovereign and ten shillingsworth of silver.” This is done, and, of course, the barmaid loses ten shillings by the transaction.

Ringing Island

The Church of Rome. It is an island because it is isolated or cut off from the world. It is a ringing island because bells are incessantly ringing: at matin and vespers, at mass and at sermon—time, at noon, vigils, eves, and so on. It is entered only after four days' fasting, without which none in the Romish Church enter holy orders.

Ringleader

The person who opens a ball or leads off a dance (see Hollyband's Dictionary, 1593). The dance referred to was commenced by the party taking hands round in a ring, instead of in two lines as in the country dance. The leader in both cases has to set the figures. One who organises and leads a party.

Riot

To run riot. To act in a very disorderly way. Riot means debauchery or wild merriment.

“See, Riot her luxurious bowl prepares.”

Tableau of Cebes.

Rip

(A). He's a regular rip. A rip of a fellow. A precious rip. Applied to children, means one who rips or tears his clothes by boisterous play, carelessness, or indifference. Anglo—Saxon ryp[an], to spoil, to tear, to break in pieces.

He is a sad rip. A sad rake or debauchee; seems to be a perversion of rep, as in demirep, meaning rep, i.e. rep—robate.

“Some forlorn, worn—out old rips, broken—kneed and broken—winded.”— Du Maurier: Peter Ibbetson, part vi. p. 376.

Rip

To rip up old grievances or sores. To bring them again to recollection, to recall them. The allusion is to breaking up a place in search of something hidden and out of sight. (Anglo—Saxon.)

“They ripped up all that had been done from the beginning of the Rebellion.”— Clarendon.

Rip Van Winkle

slept twenty years in the Kaatskill mountains. (See Winkle .)

Ripaille

I am living at Ripaille— in idleness and pleasure. (French, faire Ripaille.) Amadeus VIII., Duke of Savoy, retired to Ripaille, near Geneva, where he threw off all the cares of state, and lived among boon companions in the indulgence of unrestrained pleasure. (See Sybarite .)

Riphean

or Rhipaean Rocks. Any cold mountains in a north country. The fabled Rhiphaean mountains were in Scythia.

“Cold Riphean rocks, which the wild Russ Believes the stony girdle of the world.” Thomson: Autumn.

The poet here speaks of the Weliki Camnypoys (great stone girdle ) supposed by the early Russians to have girded the whole earth.

Ripon

True as Ripon steel. Ripon used to be famous for its steel spurs, which were the best in the world. The spikes of a Ripon spur would strike through a shilling—piece without turning the point.

Riquet with a Tuft

from the French Riquet à la Houppe, by Charles Perrault, borrowed from The Nights of Straparola, and imitated by Madame Villeneuve in her Beauty and the Beast. Riquet is the beau—ideal of ugliness, but had the power of endowing the person he loved best with wit and intelligence. He falls in love with a beautiful woman as stupid as Riquet is ugly, but possessing the power of endowing the person she loves best with beauty. The two marry and exchange gifts.

Rise

To take a rise out of one. Hotten says this is a metaphor from fly—fishing; the fish rise to the fly, and are caught.

Rising in the Air

In the Middle Ages, persons believed that saints were sometimes elevated from the ground by religious ecstasy. St. Philip of Neri was sometimes raised to the height of several yards, occasionally to the ceiling of the room. Ignatius Loyola was sometimes raised up two or three feet, and his body became luminous. St. Robert de Palentin was elevated in his ecstasies eighteen or twenty inches. St. Dunstan, a little before his death, was observed to rise from the ground. And Girolamo Savonarola, just prior to execution, knelt in prayer, and was lifted from the floor of his cell into mid—air, where he remained suspended for a considerable time. (Acta Sanctorum.

Rivals

“Persons dwelling on opposite sides of a river.” Forsyth derives these words from the Latin rivalis, a riverman. Caelius says there was no more fruitful source of contention than river—right, both with beasts and men, not only for the benefit of its waters, but also because rivers are natural boundaries. Hence Ariosto compares Orlando and Agrican to “two hinds quarrelling for the river—right" (xxiii. 83).

River Demon

or River Horse was the Kelpie of the Lowlands of Scotland.

River of Paradise

St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, “the Last of the Fathers,” was so called. (1091—1153.)

River Flowing from the Ocean Inland

The stream from the Bay of Tadjoura, on the north—east coast of Africa. It empties itself into Lake Assal.

Rivers

Miles in length. 2,578, the Nile, the longest river in Africa. 2,762, the Volga, the longest river in Europe. 3,314, the Yang—tze—Kiang, the longest river in Asia. 3,716, the Mississippi, the longest river in America.

Roach

Sound as a roach (French, Sain comme une roche). Sound as a rock.

Road

Gentlemen of the road or Knights of the road. Highwaymen. In the latter a double pun is implied. A first—class highwayman, like Robin Hood, is a “Colossus of Roads.”

King of Roads [Rhodes]. John Loudon Macadam (1756—1836). The law of the road —

“The law of the road is a paradox quite,

In riding or driving along;

If you go to the left you are sure to go right.

If you go to the right you go wrong.”

Road

or Roadstead, as “Yarmouth Roads,” a place where ships can ride at anchor. (French, rader, to anchor in a rade; Anglo—Saxon, rad, a road or place for riding.)

Road—agent

A highwayman in the mountain districts of North America.

“Road—agent is the name applied in the mountains to a rufflan who has given up honest work in the store, in the mine, in the ranch, for the perils and profits of the highway.”— W. Hepworth Dixon: New America, i. 14.

Roads

All roads lead to Rome. All efforts of thought converge in a common centre.

Roan

A reddish—brown. This is the Greek eruthron or eruthraeon; whence the Latin rufum. (The Welsh have rhudd; German, roth; Anglo—Saxon, rud; our ruddy.)

Roan Barbary The famous charger of Richard II., which ate from his royal hand. (See Richard II .)

Roarer

A broken—winded horse is so called from the noise it makes in breathing.

Roaring Boys

or Roarers. The riotous blades of Ben Jonson's time, whose delight it was to annoy quiet folk. At one time their pranks in London were carried to an alarming extent.

“And bid them think on Jones amidst this glee,

In hope to get such roaring boys as he.”

Legend of Captain Jones (1659).

Roaring Forties

(The). What seamen understand by this term is a zone of strong winds about lat. 40S., where a strong wind prevails throughout the year, from W.N.W. to E.S.E. There is a similar zone in the northern hemisphere, but the current of the wind is interrupted by the prevalence of land. The tendency, however, is from W.S.W. to E.N.E.

Roaring Game

(The). So the Scotch call the game of curling.

Roaring Trade

He drives a roaring trade. He does a great business; his employees are driven till all their wind is gone. Hence fast, quick. (See above.)

Roast

To rule the roast. To have the chief direction; to be paramount. It is usually thought that “roast” in this phrase means roost, and that the reference is to a cock who decides which hen is to roost nearest to him, but the subjoined quotation favours the idea of “council.”

“John, Duke of Burgoyne, ruled the rost, and governed both King Charles ... and his whole realme.”— Hall: Union (1548).

Roasting One

To give one a roasting. To banter, him, to expose him to sharp words. Shakespeare, in Hamlet, speaks of roasting “in wrath and fire.”

Rob

A sort of jam. It is a Spanish word, taken from the Arabic roob (the juice of fruit).

Faire un rob (in whist). To win the rubber; that is, either two successive games, or two out of three. Borrowed from the game of bowls.

Rob Roy

[Robert the Red]. A nickname given to Robert M'Gregor, who assumed the name of Campbell when the clan M'Gregor was outlawed by the Scotch Parliament in 1662. He may be termed the Robin Hood of Scotland.

“Rather beneath the middle size than above it, his limbs were formed upon the very strongest model that is consistent with agility. ... Two points in his person interfered with the rules of symmetry: his shoulders were so broad ... as to give him the air of being too square in respect to his stature; and his arms, though round, sinewy, and strong, were so very long as to be rather a deformity.”— Sir Walter Scott a Rob Roy McGregor, xxiii.

Robber

The highwayman who told Alexander that he was the greater robber of the two was named Dionides. The tale is given in Evenings at Home under the title of Alexander and the Robber.

Robber. Edward IV. of England was called by the Scotch Edward the Robber.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul

On December 17th, 1550, the abbey church of St. Peter, Westminster, was advanced to the dignity of a cathedral by letters patent; but ten years later it was joined to the diocese of

London again, and many of its estates appropriated to the repairs of St. Paul's Cathedral. (Winkle: Cathedrals.)

“Tanquam siquis crucifigeret Paulum ut redimeret Petrum.” (Twelfth century.)

“It was not desirable to rob St. Peter's altar in order to build one to St. Paul.”— Viglius: Com. Dec. Denarii, i. 9 (1569).

Robert

King Robert of Sicily. A metrical romance of the Trouveur, taken from the Story of the Emperor Jovinian in the Gesta Romanorum, and borrowed from the Talmud. It finds a place in the Arabian Nights, the Turkish Tutinameh, the Sanskrit Pantschatantra, and has been réchauffé by Longfellow under the same name.

Robert, Robin. A highwayman.

Robert Francois Damiens

who attempted to assassinate Louis XV., is called “Robert the Devil.” (1714—1757.)

Robert Macaire

He's a Robert Macaire. A bluff, free—living, unblushing libertine, who commits the most horrible crimes without stint or compunction. It is a character in M. Daumier's drama of L'Auberge des Adrets. His accomplice is Bertrand, a simpleton and villain. (See Macaire .)

Robert Street

(Adelphi; London). So called from Robert Adams, the builder.

Robert le Diable

The son of Bertha and Bertramo. The former was daughter of Robert, Duke of Normandy, and the latter was a fiend in the guise of a knight. The opera shows the struggle in Robert between the virtue inherited from his mother, and the vice imparted by his father. He is introduced as a libertine; but Alice, his foster—sister, places in his hand the will of his mother, “which he is not to read till he is worthy.” Bertramo induces him to gamble till he loses everything, and finally claims his soul; but Alice counter plots the fiend, and finally triumphs by reading to Robert the will of his mother. (Meyerbser: Roberto il Diavolo, an opera.)

Robert the Devil

Robert, first Duke of Normandy; so called for his daring and cruelty. The Norman tradition is that his wandering ghost will not be allowed to rest till the Day of Judgment. He is also called Robert the Magnificent. (1028—1035.)

Robert of Brunne

that is, of Bourne, in Lincolnshire. His name was Robert Manning, author of an old English Chronicle, written in the reign of Edward III. It consists of two parts, the first of which is in octosyllabic rhymes, and is a translation of Wace's Brut; the second part is in Alexandrine verse, and is a translation of the French chronicle of Piers de Langtoft, of Yorkshire.

“Of Brunne I am, if any me blame,

Robert Mannying is my name ...

In the thrid Edwardes tynie was I

When I wrote alle this story.”

Preface to Chronicle.

Robert's Men

Bandits, marauders, etc. So called from Robin Hood, the outlaw.

Robespierre's Weavers

The fish—women and other female rowdies who joined the Parisian Guard, and helped to line the avenues to the National Assembly in 1793, and clamour “Down with the Girondists!”

Robin Goodfellow

A “drudging fiend,” and merry domestic fairy, famous for mischievous pranks and practical jokes. At night—time he will sometimes do little services for the family over which he presides. The

Scotch call this domestic spirit a brownie; the Germans, kobold or Knecht Ruprecht. The Scandinavians called it Nissë God—dreng. Puck, the jester of Fairy—court, is the same.

“Either I mistake your shape and making quite,

Or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Called Robin Goodfellow. ...

Those that Hob—goblin call you, and sweet Puck

You do their work, and they shall have good luck.” Shakespeare: Midsummer Night's Dream, ii. 1.

(See Fairy.)

Robin Gray

(Auld). Words by Lady Anne Lindsay, daughter of the Earl of Balcarres, and afterwards Lady Barnard, in 1772, written to an old Scotch tune called “The bridegroom grat when the sun gaed down.” Auld Robin Gray was the herdsman of her father. When Lady Anne had written a part, she called her younger sister for advice. She said, “I am writing a ballad of virtuous distress in humble life. I have oppressed my heroine with sundry troubles: for example, I have sent her Jamie to sea, broken her father's arm, made her mother sick, given her Auld Robin Gray for a lover, and want a fifth sorrow; can you help me to one?” “Steal the cow, sister Anne,” said the little Elizabeth; so the cow was stolen awa', and the song completed.

Robin Hood

Robin Hood is first mentioned by the Scottish historian Fordun, who died in 1386. According to Stow, he was an outlaw in the reign of Richard I. (twelfth century). He entertained one hundred tall men, all good archers, with the spoil he took, but “he suffered no woman to be oppressed, violated, or otherwise molested; poore men's goods he spared, abundantlie relieving them with that which by theft he got from abbeys and houses of rich carles.” He was an immense favourite with the common people, who have dubbed him an earl. Stukeley says he was Robert Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon. (See Robert .)

According to one tradition, Robin Hood and Little John were two heroes defeated with Simon de Montfort at the battle of Evesham, in 1265. Fuller, in his Worthies, considers him an historical character, but Thierry says he simply represents a class— viz. the remnant of the old Saxon race, which lived in perpetual defiance of the Norman oppressors from the time of Hereward.

Other examples of similar combinations are the Cumberland bandits, headed by Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William of Cloudesley.

An old sporting magazine of December, 1808, says the true name of Robin Hood was Fitzooth, and Fitz being omitted leaves Ooth, and converting th into d it became “Ood.” He was grandson of Ralph Fitzooth, Earl of Kyme, a Norman, who came to England in the reign of William Rufus. His maternal grandfather was Gilbert de Gaunt, Earl of Lincoln, and his grandmother was Lady Roisia de Bere, sister to the Earl of Oxford. His father was under the guardianship of Robert, Earl of Oxford, who, by the king's order, gave him in marriage the third daughter of Lady Roisia. (Notes and Queries, May 21st, 1887.)

The traditions about Fulk Fitz—Warine, great—grandson of Warine of Metz, so greatly resemble those connected with “Robin Hood,” that some suppose them to be both one. Fitz—Warine quarrelled with John, and when John was king he banished Fulk, who became a bold forester. (See Notes and Queries, November 27th, 1886, pp. 421—424.)

Bow and arrow of Robin Hood. The traditional bow and arrow of Robin Hood are religiously preserved at Kirklees Hall, Yorkshire, the seat of Sir George Armytage; and the site of his grave is pointed out in the park.

Death of Robin Hood. He was bled to death treacherously by a nun, instigated to the foul deed by his kinsman, the prior of Kirklees, Yorkshire, near Halifax. Introduced by Sir Walter Scott in Ivanhoe.

Epitaph of Robin Hood.

“Hear, underneath this latil stean.

Laiz Robert earl of Huntington;

Nea arcir ver az hie sae gend,

An pipl kauld him Robin Heud.

Sich utlaz az he an hiz men

VII England nivr si agen,”

Obit. 24, Kalend Dikembris, 1247.

Notwithstanding this epitaph, it is generally thought that Robin Hood died in 1325, which would bring him into the reign of Edward II., not Richard I., according to Sir Walter Scott.

In the accounts of King Edward II.'s household is an item which states that “Robin Hood received his wages as king's valet, and a gratuity on leaving the service.” One of the ballads relates how Robin Hood took service under this king.

Many talk of Robin Hood who never shot with his bow. Many brag of deeds in which they took no part. Many talk of Robin Hood, and wish their hearers to suppose they took part in his adventures, but they never put a shaft to one of his bows; nor could they have bent it even if they had tried.

To sell Robin Hood's pennyworth is to sell things at half their value. As Robin Hood stole his wares, he sold them, under their intrinsic value, for just what he could get on the nonce.

Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne. Robin Hood and Little John, having had a tiff, part company; when Little John falls into the hands of the sheriff of Nottingham, who binds him to a tree. Meanwhile, Robin Hood meets with Guy of Gisborne, sworn to slay the “bold forrester.” The two bowmen struggle together, but Guy is slain, and Robin Hood rides till he comes to the tree where Little John is bound. The sheriff mistakes him for Guy of Gisborne, and gives him charge of the prisoner. Robin cuts the cord, hands Guy's bow to Little John, and the two soon put to flight the sheriff and his men. (Percy: Reliques, etc., series i.)

Robin Hood Wind

(A). A cold thaw—wind. Tradition runs that Robin Hood used to say he could bear any cold except that which a thaw—wind brought with it.

Robin Mutton

(A). A simpleton.

“Do you see this ram? His name is Robin. Here, Robin, Robin, Robin. ... We will get a pair of scales, and then you, Robin Mutton [Panurge], shall be weighed against Tup Robin, ... etc.”— Rabelais: Pantagruel, iv. 7.

Robin Redbreast

The tradition is that when our Lord was on His way to Calvary, a robin picked a thorn out of His crown, and the blood which issued from the wound falling on the bird dyed its breast with red. (See Christian Traditions .)

Robin Redbreasts. Bow Street runners were so called from their red waistcoats.

Robin and Makyne

(2 syl.). An ancient Scottish pastoral. Robin is a shepherd for whom Makyne sighs. She goes to him and tells her love, but Robin turns a deaf ear, and the damsel goes home to weep. After a time the tables are turned, and Robin goes to Makyne to plead for her heart and hand; but the damsel replies—

“The man that will not when he may

Sall have nocht when he wald.”

Percy: Reliques, etc., series ii.

Robin of Bagshot

Noted for the number of his aliases (see Alias ); but Deeming had nine: viz. Williams, Ward, Swanston, Levey, Lord Dunn, Lawson, Mollatt, Drewe, and Baron Swanston.

“You have as many aliases as Robin of Bag shot.”

Robinson Crusoe

Alexander Selkirk was found in the desert island of Juan Fernandez, where he had been left by Captain Stradling. He remained on the island four years and four months, when he was rescued by Captain

Rogers, and brought to England. The embryo of De Foe's novel may be seen in Captain Burney's interesting narrative.

Robinsonians

They were followers of John Robinson, of Leyden. The Brownists were followers of Robert Brown. The Brownists were most rigid separatists; the Robinsonians were only semi—separatists.

Roc

A fabulous white bird of enormous size, and such strength that it can “truss elephants in its talons,” and carry them to its mountain nest, where it devours them. (Arabian Nights; The Third Calender, and Sinbad the Sailor.)

Roch

(St.). Patron of those afflicted with the plague, because he devoted his life to their service, and is said to intercede for them in his exaltation. He is depicted in a pilgrim's habit, lifting his dress to display a

plague—spot on his thigh, which an angel is touching that he may cure it. Sometimes he is accompanied by a dog bringing bread in his month, in allusion to the legend that a hound brought him bread daily while he was perishing in a forest of pestilence.

St. Roch's Day (August 16th), formerly celebrated in England as a general harvest—home, and styled “the great August festival.” The Anglo—Saxon name of it was harfest (herb—feast), the word herb meaning autumn (German herbst), and having no relation to what we call herbs.

St. Roch et son chien. Inseparables; Darby and Joan.

Roche

Men of la vieille roche. Old—fashioned men; men of fossilised ideas; non—progressive men. A geological expression.

“Perhaps it may be justly attributed to a class of producers, men of la vicille roche, that they have been so slow to apprehend the changes which are daily presenting themselves in the requirements of trade.”— The Times.

Sir Boyle Roche's bird. Sir Boyle Roche, quoting from Jevon's play (The Devil of a Wife), said on one occasion in the House, “Mr. Speaker, it is impossible I could have been in two places at once, unless I were a bird.”

“Presuming that the duplicate card is the knave of hearts, you may make a remark on the ubiquitous nature of certain cards, which, like Sir Boyle Roche's bird, are in two places at once.”— Drawing—room Magic.

Rochelle Salt

So called because it was discovered by an apothecary of Rochelle, named Seignette, in 1672.

Roches

(Catharine des) had a collection of poems written on her, termed La Puce de Grands—jours de Poitiers.

Rochester

according to Bede, derives its name from “Hrof,” a Saxon chieftain. (Hrofs—ccaster, Hrof's castle.)

Rock

A quack; so called from one Rock, who was the “Holloway” of Queen Anne's reign.

“Oh, when his nerves had once received a shock,

Sir Isaac Newton might have gone to Rock.”

Crabbe: Borough.

The Ladies' Rock. A crag in Scotland under the castle rock of Stirling, where ladies used to witness tournaments.

“In the castle hill is a hollow called The Valley about a square acre in extent, used for justings and tournaments. On the south side of the valley is a small rocky pyramidical mount, called The Ladies' Hill or Rock, where the ladies sat to witness the spectacle.”— Nimmo: History of Stirlingshire, p. 282.

People of the Rock. The inhabitants of Hejaz or Arabia Petraea. Captain Rock. A fictitious name assumed by the leader of the Irish insurgents in 1822.

Rock ahead

(A). A sea—phrase, meaning that a rock is in the path of the ship, which the helmsman must steer clear of; a danger threatens; an opponent; an obstruction.

“That yonker ... has been a rock ahead to me all my life.”— Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering, chap. liv.

Rock Cork

A variety of asbestos, resembling cork. It is soft, easily cut, and very light.

Rock Crystal

The specimens which enclose hair—like substances are called Thetis's hair—stone, Venus's hair—stone, Venus's pencils, Cupid's net, Cupid's arrows, etc.

Rock Day

The day after Twelfthday, when, the Christmas holidays being over, women returned to their rock or distaff.

Rococo

C'est du rococo. It is mere twaddle; Brummagem finery; make—believe. (Italian roco, uncouth.)

Rococo Architecture

A debased style, which succeeded the revival of Italian architecture, and very prevalent in Germany. The ornamentation is without principle or taste, and may be designated ornamental design run mad. The Rock—temple of Ellora, in India, is most lavishly decorated.

“The sacristy of St. Lorenzo ... was the beginning of that wonderful mixture of antique regularity with the capricious bizarrerie of modern times, the last barren fruit of which was

the rococo.”— H. Grimm: Michel Angelo, vol. ii. chap. xi. p. 173.

Rococo Jewellery

strictly speaking, means showy jewellery made up of several different stones. Moorish decoration and Watteau's paintings are rococo. The term is now generally used depreciatingly for flashy, gaudy. Louis XIV. furniture, with gilding and ormolu, is sometimes termed rococo.

Rod

To kiss the rod. (See Kiss The Rod .)

Rod—men

Anglers, who use line and fishing—rod.

“You will be nearly sure to meet one or two old rod—men sipping their toddy there.”— J. K. Jennue Three Men in a Boat, chap. xvii.

Rod in Pickle

(A). A scolding in store. The rod is laid in pickle to keep it ready for use.

Roderick

the thirty—fourth and last of the Visigothic kings, was the son of Theodofred, and grandson of King Chindasuintho. Witiza, the usurper, put out the eyes of Theodofred, and murdered Favil'a, a younger brother of Roderick; but Roderick, having recovered his father's throne, put out the eyes of the usurper. The sons of Witiza, joining with Count Julian, invited the aid of Muza ibn Nozeir, the Arab chief, who sent Tarik into Spain with a large army. Roderick was routed at the battle of Gaudalete, near Xeres de la Frontera (July 17th, 711). Southey has taken this story for an epic poem in twenty—five books— blank verse. (See Rodrigo .)

Roderick Random

(See Random .)

Roderigo

A Venetian gentleman in Shakespeare's Othello. He was in love with Desdemona, and when the lady eloped with Othello, hated the “noble Moor.” Iago took advantage of this temper for his own ends, told his dupe the Moor will change, therefore “put money in thy purse.” The burden of his advice was always the same— “Put money in thy purse.”

This word is sometimes pronounced Rod'r—igo: e.g. “It is as sure as you are Roderigo;” and sometimes Rode—rigo: e.g. “On, good Roderigo; I'll deserve your pains.” (Act i. scene 1.)

Rodhaver

The lady—love of Zal, a Persian hero. Zal wanted to scale her bower, and Rodhaver let down her long tresses to assist him; but the lover managed to climb to his mistress by fixing his crook into a projecting beam, (Champion: Ferdosi.)

Rodilardus

A huge cat which seared Panurge, and which he declared to be a puny devil. The word means “gnaw—bacon” (Latin, rodo—lardum). (Rabelais: Gargantua and Pantagruel, iv. 67.)

Rodolpho

(Count). The count, returning from his travels, puts up for the night at an inn near his castle. While in bed, a lady enters his chamber, and speaks to him of her devoted love. It is Amina, the somnambulist, who has wandered thither in her sleep. Rodolpho perceives the state of the case, and quits the apartment. The villagers, next morning, come to congratulate their lord on his return, and find his bed occupied by a lady. The tongue of scandal is loud against her, but the count explains to them the mystery, and his tale is confirmed by their own eyes, which see Amina at the moment getting out of the window of a mill, and walking in her sleep along the edge of a roof under which the wheel of the mill is rolling with velocity. She crosses the crazy bridge securely, and everyone is convinced of her innocence. (Bellini: La Sonnambula.) (See Amina, Elvino.)

Rodomont

(in Orlando Inamorato and Orlando Furioso). King of Sarza or Algiers, Ulien's son, and called the “Mars of Africa.” He was commander both of horse and foot in the Saracen army sent against Charlemagne and may be termed the Achilles of the host. His lady—love was Doralis, Princess of Granada, who ran off with Mandricardo, King of Tartary. At Rogero's wedding—feast Rodomont rode up to the king of

France in full armour, and accused Rogero, who had turned Christian, of being a traitor to King Agramant, his master and a renegrade; whereupon Rogero met him in single combat, and slew him. (See Rogero .)

“Who more brave than Rodomont?”— Cervantes: Don Quixote.

Rodomontade

(4 syl.). From Rodomont, a brave but braggart knight in Bojardo's Orlando Inamorato. He is introduced into the continuation of the story by Amosto (Orlando Furioso), but the braggart part of his character is greatly toned down. Neither Rodomont nor Hector deserves the opprobium which has been attached to their names. (See Rodomont .)

Rodrigo

[Rod—reé—go] or Roderick, King of Spain, conquered by the Arabs. He saved his life by flight, and wandered to Guadalet'e, where he saw a shepherd, and asked food. In return he gave the shepherd his royal chain and ring. He passed the night in the cell of a hermit, who told him that by way of penance he must pass certain days in a tomb full of snakes, toads, and lizards. After three days the hermit went to see him, and he was unhurt, “because the Lord kept His anger against him.” The hermit went home, passed the night in prayer, and went again to the tomb, when Rodrigo said, “They eat me now, they eat me now, I feel the adder's bite.” So his sin was atoned for, and he died.

Rogation Days

The Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day. Rogation is the Latin equivalent of the Greek word “Litany,” and on the three Rogation days “the Litany of the Saints” is appointed to be sung by the clergy and people in public procession. (“Litany,” Greek litaneia, supplication. “Rogation,” Latin rogatio, same meaning.)

Rogation Week

used to be called Gang Week, from the custom of ganging round the country parishes to mark their bounds. Similarly, the weed Milkwort is still called Rogation or Gang—flower, from the custom of decorating the pole (carried on such occasions by the charity children) with these flowers.

Rogel

of Greece. A knight, whose exploits and adventures form a supplemental part of the Spanish romance entitled Amadis of Gaul. This part was added by Feliciano de Silva.

Roger

The cook in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. “He cowde roste, sethe, broille, and frie. Make mortreux, and wel bake a pye;” but Herry Bailif, the host, said to him—

“Now telle on, Roger, and loke it be good;

For many a Jakk of Dover hastew sold.

That hath be twyës hoot and twyës cold.”

Verse 4343.

Roger Bontemps. (See Bontemps.) The Jolly Roger. The black flag, the favourite ensign of pirates.

“Set all sail, clear the deck, stand to quarters, up with the Jolly Roger!”— Sir Walter Scott: The Pirate, chap. xxxi.

Roger of Bruges. Roger van der Weyde, painter. (1455—1529.) Roger de Coverley. A dance invented by the great—grandfather of Roger de Coverley, or Roger of Cowley, near Oxford. Named after the squire described in Addison's Spectator.

Roger of Hoveden or Howden, in Yorkshire, continued Bede's History from 732 to 1202. The reigns of Henry II. and Richard I. are very fully given. The most matter—of—fact of all our old chroniclers; he indulges in no epithets or reflections.

Rogero, Ruggiero or Rizieri of Risa (in Orlando Furioso ), was brother of Marphisa, and son of Rogero and Galacella. He married Bradamant. Charlemagne's niece, but had no issue. Galacella being slain by Agolant and his sons, Rogero was nursed by a lioness. Rogero deserted from the Moorish army to the Christian Charles, and was baptised. His marriage with Bradamant and election to the crown of Bulgaria conclude the poem.

Rogero was brought up by Atlantes, a magician, who gave him a shield of such dazzling splendour that everyone quailed who set eyes on it. Rogero, thinking it unknightly to carry a charmed shield, threw it into a well.

“Who more courteous than Rogero?”— Cervantes: Don Quixote.

Rogero (in Jerusalem Delivered), brother of Boemond, and son of Roberto Guiscardo, of the Norman race, was one of the band of adventurers in the crusading army. Slain by Tisaphernes. (Bk. xx.)

Rogue Ingrain

(A). Ingrain colours are what we call “fast colours,” colours which will not fly or wash out. A rogue ingrain means one rotten to the core, one whose villainy is deep—seated.

“Tis ingrain, sir; 'twill endure wind and weather.”— Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, i. 5.

Roi Panade

[King of Slops]. Louis XVIII. was so nicknamed. (1755, 1814—1824.)

Roland

Count of Mans and Knight of Blaives, was son of Duke Milo of Aiglant, his mother being Bertha, the sister of Charlemagne. His sword was called Durandal, and his horse Veillantiff. He was eight feet high, and had an open countenance, which invited confidence, but inspired respect. In Italian romance he is called Orlando, his sword Durandana, and his horse Vegliantino. (See Song of Roland.)

“I knew of no one to compare him to but the Archangel Michael.”— Croquemitaine, iii.

Roland. Called the Christian Theseus (2 syl.), or the Achilles of the West. Roland or Rolando (Orlando in Italian).

One of Charlemagne's paladins and nephews. He is represented as brave, loyal, and simple—minded. On the return of Charlemagne from Spain, Roland, who commanded the rear—guard, fell into an ambuscade at Roncesvalles, in the Pyrenees, and perished with all the flower of French chivalry (778). He is the hero of Theroulde's Chanson de Roland; the romance called Chroniq de Turpin; Boiardo's epic Orlando in Love

(Italian); and Ariosto's epic of Orlando Mad (Italian).

Roland, after slaying Angoulaffre, the Saracen giant, in single combat at Fronsac, asked as his reward the hand of Aude, daughter of Sir Gerard and Lady Guibourg; but they never married, as Roland fell at Roncesvalles, and Aude died of a broken heart. (Croquemitaine, xi.)

A Roland for an Oliver. A blow for a blow, tit for tat. Roland and Oliver were two of the paladins of Charlemagne, whose exploits are so similar that it is very difficult to keep them distinct. What Roland did Oliver did, and what Oliver did Roland did. At length the two met in single combat, and fought for five consecutive days on an island in the Rhine, but neither gained the least advantage. (See in La Légende des Siècles, by Victor Hugo, the poem entitled Le Mariage de Roland.

The etymologies connecting the proverb with Charles II., General Monk, and Oliver Cromwell, are wholly unworthy of credit, for even Shakespeare alludes to it: “England all Olivers and Rolands bred” (1 Henry VI., i.

2); and Edward Hall, the historian, almost a century before Shakespeare, writes—

“But to have a Roland to resist an Oliver, he sent solempne ambassadors to the Kyng of Englande, offeryag hym hys doughter in mariage.”— Henry VI.

(See Oliver, Breche.)

In French, a bon chat bon rat.

To die like Roland. To die of starvation or thirst. It is said that Roland, the great paladin, set upon in the

defile of Roncesvalles, escaped the general slaughter, and died of hunger and thirst in seeking to cross the Pyrenees.

“Post ingentem Hispanorum caedem prope Pyrenaei saltus juga ... siti miserrime extinctum. Inde nostri intolerabili siti et immiti volentes significare se torque, facere aiunt, Rolandi morte se perire.”— John de la Bruiere Champie: Re Cibria, xvi. 5.

Faire le Roland. To swagger.

Like the blast of Roland's horn. When Roland was set upon by the Gascons at Roncesvalles, he sounded his horn to give Charlemagne notice of his danger. At the third blast it cracked in two, but so loud was the blast that birds fell dead and the whole Saracen army was panicstruck. Charlemagne heard the sound at St. Jean Pied de Port, and rushed to the rescue, but arrived too late.

“Oh, for one blast of that dread born

On Fontarabian echoes borne,

That to King Charles did come.”

Sir Walter Scott: Marmion, vi. 33.

Song of Roland. Part of the Ghansons de Geste, which treat of the achievements of Charlemagne and his paladins. William of Normandy had it sung at the head of his troops when he came to invade England.

Song of Roland. When Charlemagne had been six years in Spain, by the advice of Roland, his nephew, he sent Ganelon on an embassy to Marsillus, the pagan king of Saragossa. Ganelon, out of jealousy, betrayed to Marsillus the route which the Christian army designed to take on its way home, and the pagan king arrived at Roncesvalles just as Roland was conducting through the pass a rearguard of 20,000 men. Roland fought till 100,000 Saracens lay slain, and only 50 of his own men survived. At this juncture another army, consisting of 50,000 men, poured from the mountains. Roland now blew his enchanted horn, and blew so loudly that the veins of his neck started. Charlemagne heard the blast, but Ganelon persuaded him that it was only his nephew hunting the deer. Roland died of his wounds, but in dying threw his trusty sword Durandal into a poisoned stream, where it remained.

Roland de Vaux

(Sir). Baron of Triermain, who woke Gyneth from her long sleep of five hundred years and married her. (Sir Walter Scott: Bridal of Triermain.)

Rolandseck Tower

opposite the Drachenfels. The legend is that when Roland went to the wars, a false report of his death was brought to his betrothed, who retired to a convent in the isle of Nonnewerth. When Roland returned home flushed with glory, and found that his lady—love had taken the veil, he built the castle which bears his name, and overlooks the nunnery, that he might at least see his heart—treasure, lost to him for ever.

Roll

The flying roll of Zechariah (v. 1—5). “Predictions of evils to come on a nation are like the Flying Roll of Zechariah.” This roll (twenty cubits long and ten wide) was full of maledictions, threats, and calamities about to befall the Jews. The parchment being unrolled fluttered in the air.

Rolls

[Chancery Lane, London]. So called from the records kept there in rolls of parchment. The house was originally built by Henry III, for converted Jews, and was called “Domus Conversorum.” It was Edward III, who appropriated the place to the conservation of records. “Conversi” means laymonks. (Ducange, vol. ii. p. 703.)

Glover's Roll. A copy of the lost Roll of Arms, made by Glover, Somerset herald. It is a roll of the arms borne by Henry III., his princes of the blood, barons, and knights, between 1216 and 1272.

The Roll of Caerlaverock. An heraldic poem in Norman—French, reciting the names and arms of the knights present at the siege of Caerlaverock, in 1300.

Rolling Stone A rolling stone gathers no moss. Greek: (Erasmus: Proverbs; Assiduitas.) Latin: Saxum volutum non obducitur musco (or Saxum volubile etc.) Planta quae saepius transfertus non coalescit. (Fabius.) Saepius plantata arbor fructum profert exiguum. French: Pierre qui roule n'amasse jamais mousse. La pierre souvent remuée n'amasse pas volontiers mousse. Pierre souvent remuée n'attire pas mousse. Italian: Pietra mossa non fa muschio. “Three removes are as bad as a fire.”

“I never saw an oft—removed tree,

Nor yet an oft—removed family.

That throve so well as those that settled be.”

Rollrich

or Rowidrich Stones, near Chipping Norton (Oxfordshire). A number of large stones in a circle, which tradition says are men turned to stone. The highest of them is called the King, who “would have been king of England if he could have caught sight of Long Compton,” which may be seen a few steps farther on; five other large stones are called the knights, and the rest common soldiers.

Roly—poly

(pron. rowly—y powl—y). A crust with jam rolled up into a pudding; a little fat child. Roly is a thing rolled with the diminutive added. In some parts of Scotland the game of nine—pins is called rouly—pouly.

Romaic

Modern or Romanised Greek.

Roman

(The)

Jean Dumont, the French painter, le Romain (1700—1781). Stephen Picart, the French engraver, le Romain (1631—1721). Giulio Pippi, Giulio Romano (1492—1546).

Adrian van Roomen, the mathematician, Adrianus Romanus (1561—1615).

Most learned of the Romans. Marcus Terentius Varro (B.C. 116—28). Last of the Romans. Rienzi (1310—1354).

Last of the Romans. Charles James Fox (1749—1806.) (See Sidney.) Ultimus Romanorum. Horace Walpole (1717—1797). (See Last.)

Roman Birds

Eagles; so called because the ensign of the Roman legion was an eagle.

“Romanas aves propria legionum numina.”— Tacitus.

Roman Remains in England

The most remarkable are the following:— The pharos, church, and trenches in Dover.

Chilham Castle, Richborough, and Reculver forts.

Silchester (Berkshire), Dorchester, Nisconium (Salop), and Caerleon, amphitheatres. Hadrian's wall, from Tyne to Boulness.

The wall, baths, and Newport Gate of Lincoln.

Verulam, near St. Albans.

York (Eboracum), where Severus and Constantius Chlorus died, and Constantine the Great was born. Bath, etc.

Roman de Chevalier de Lyon

by Maitre Wace, Canon of Caen in Normandy, and author of Le Brut. The romance referred to is the same as that entitled Ywain and Gawain.

Roman de la Rose

(See Iliad , The French.)

Roman des Romans

A French version of Amadis of Gaul, greatly extended, by Gilbert Saunier and Sieur de Duverdier.

Romance

A tale in prose or verse the incidents of which are hung upon what is marvellous and fictitious. These tales were originally written in the Romance language (q.v.), and the expression, “In Romance we read,” came in time to refer to the tale, and not to the language in which it was told.

Romance of chivalry may be divided into three groups:— (1) that relating to Arthur and his Round Table; (2) that relating to Charlemagne and his paladins; (3) that relating to Amadis and Palmerin. In the first are but few fairies; in the second they are shown in all their glory; in the third (which belongs to Spanish literature) we have no fairies, but the enchantress Urganda la Desconecida.

It is misleading to call such poetical tales as the Bride of Abydos, Lalla Rookh, and the Chansons of the Mouvères, etc., Romances.

Romanesque

(3 syl.).

In painting. Fanciful and romantic rather than true to nature.

In architecture. Byzantine, Lombard, Saxon, and, indeed, all the debased Roman styles, between the time of Coustantine (350) and Charlemagne (800).

In literature. The dialect of Languedoc, which smacks of the Romance.

Romanic or Romance Languages. Those modern languages which are the immediate offspring of Latin, as the Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. Early French is emphatically so called; hence Bouillett says, “Le roman était universellement parlé en Gaule au dixième siècle.”

“Frankis speech is called Romance,

So say clerks and men of France.”

Robert Le Brunn.

Romanism

Popery, or what resembles Popery, the religion of modern Rome. (A word of implied reproach.)

Romantic School

The name assumed, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, by a number of young poets and critics in Germany, who wished to limit poetry and art to romance. Some twenty—five years later Victor Hugo, Lamartine, and Dumas introduced it into France.

Romanus

(St.), a Norman bishop of the seventh century, is depicted fighting with a dragon, in allusion to the tale that he miraculously conquered a dragon which infested Normandy.

Romany

Gipsy language, the speech of the Roma or Zincali. This has nothing to do with Rome.

“A learned Sclavonian ... said of Rommany, that he found it interesting to be able to study a Hindu dialect in the heart of Europe.”— Leland: English Gipsies, chap. viii. p. 109.

Rome

Virgil says of Romulus, “Mavortia condet moenia, Romanosque suo de nomine dicet” (AEneid, i. 276). The words of the Sibyl, quoted by Servius, are Romulus is a diminutive or word of endearment for Romus.

The etymology of Rome from Roma (mother of Romulus and Remus), or from Romulus, the legendary founder of the city, or from ruma (a dug), in allusion to the fable of a wolf suckling the outcast children, is not tenable. Niebuhr derives it from the Greek word rhoma (strength), a suggestion confirmed by its other name Valentia, from valens (strong). Michelet prefers Rumo, the ancient name of the river Tiber.

Rome

Founders of Rome. (1) Romulus, the legendary founder, B.C. 752; (2) Camillus was termed the Second Romulus, for saving Rome from the Gauls, B.C. 365; (3) Caius Marius was called the Third Romulus, for saving Rome from the Teutones and Cimbri, B.C. 101.

From Rome to May. A bantering expression, equivalent to the following:— “From April to the foot of Westminster Bridge;” “Inter pascha Rennesque feror” (Reinardus, ii. 690); “Inter Cluniacum et Sancti festa Johannis obit” (Reinardus, iv. 972); “Celasest passé entre Maubeuge et la Pentecóte.”

'Tis ill sitting at Rome and striving with the Pope. Never tread on a man's corns. “Never wear a brown hat in Friesland" (q.v.).

“Mr. Harrison the steward, and Gudyell the butler, are no very fond o'us, and it's ill sitting at Rome and striving with the pope, sae I thought it best to flit before ill came.”— Sir W. Scott: Old Mortality, chap. viii.

Oh, that all Rome had but one head, that I might strike it off at a blow! Caligula, the Roman emperor, is said to have uttered this amiable sentiment.

When you go to Rome, do as Rome does— i.e. conform to the manners and customs of those amongst whom you live, and don't wear a brown hat in Friesland. St. Monica and her son St. Augustine, said to St. Ambrose: At Rome they fast on Saturday, but not so at Milan; which practice ought to be observed? To which St. Ambrose replied, “When I am at Milan, I do as they do at Milan; but when I go to Rome, I do as Rome does.” (Epistle xxxvi.) Compare 2 Kings v. 18, 19.

Rome of the West Aachen, or Aix la Chapelle, the favourite city of Charlemagne, where, when he died, he was seated, embalmed, on a throne, with the Bible on his lap, his sword (La Joyeuse) by his side, the imperial crown on his head, and his sceptre and shield at his feet. So well had the Egyptians embalmed him, that he seemed only to be asleep.

Rome was not Built in a Day

Achievements of great pith and moment are not accomplished without patient perseverance and a considerable interval of time. The French say, “Grand bien ne vient pas en peu d'heures,” but the English proverb is to be found in the French also: “Rome n'a pasété faite en un jour.” (1615.)

Rome was not built in a day, like Anchiale, of Cilicia, where Sardanapalus was buried. It is said that Anchiale was actually built in a day.

Rome's best Wealth is Patriotism

So said Mettius Curtius, when he jumped into the chasm which the soothsayers gave out would never close till Rome threw therein “its best wealth.”

Romeo

(A). A devoted lover; a lady's man; from Romeo in Shakespeare's tragedy. (See Romeo and Juliet.)

“James in an evil hour went forth to woo

Young Juliet Hart, and was her Romeo.”

Crabbe: Borough.

Romeo and Juliet

(Shakespeare). The story is taken from a poetical version by Arthur Brooke of Boisteau's novel, called Rhomeo and Julietta. Boisteau borrowed the main incidents from a story by Luigi da Porto, of Vicenza (1535), entitled La Giulietta. In many respects it resembles the Ephesiaca (in ten books) of Ephesius Xenophon, whose novel recounts the loves of Habrocomas and Anthia.

Romulus

We need no Romulus to account for Rome. We require no hypothetical person to account for a plain fact.

Romulus and Remus were suckled by a wolf; Atalanta by a she—bear.

Ron

or Rone. The name of Prince Arthur's spear, made of ebony.

“His spere he nom [took] an honde tha Ron was thaten [called].

Layamon: Brut (twelfth century).

Ronald

Lord Ronald gave Lady Clare a lily—white doe as a love—token, and the cousins were to be married on the following day. Lady Clare opened her heart to Alice the nurse, and was then informed that she was not Lady Clare at all, but the nurse's child, and that Lord Ronald was rightful heir to the estate. “Lady” Clare dressed herself as a peasant, and went to reveal the mystery to her lord. Ronald replied, “If you are not the heiress born, we will be married to—morrow, and you shall still be Lady Clare.” (Tennyson.)

Roncesvalles

(4 syl.). A defile in the Pyrenees, famous for the diaster which here befell the rear of Charlemagne's army, on the return march from Saragossa. Ganelon betrayed Roland, out of jealousy, to Marsillus, King of the Saracens, and an ambuscade attacking the Franks, killed every man of them. Amongst the slain were Roland, Oliver, Turpin, and Mitaine, the emperor's godchild. An account of this attack is given in the epilogue of Croquemitaine; but the historical narrative is derived from Eginhard.

Rondo

Father of the rondo. Jean Baptiste Davaux; but Gluck was the first to introduce the musical rondo into France, in the opera of Orpheus.

Rone

(1 syl.). (See Ron .)

Ronyon

or Ronion. A term of contempt to a woman. It is the French rogneux (scabby, mangy).

“You hag, you baggage, you polecat, you ronyon! out, out!”— Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. 2r

“ `Aroint thee, witch!' the rump—fed ronyon cries.” Shakespeare: Macbeth, i. 3.

Rood Lane

(London). So called from a rood or “Jesus on the Cross” placed there, and in Roman Catholic times held in great veneration.

Rood—loft

(The). The screen between the nave and chancel, where the rood or crucifix was elevated. In some cases, on each side of the crucifix were either some of the evangelists or apostles, and especially the saint to whom the church was dedicated.

“And then to zee the rood—loft,

Zo bravely zet with zaints.”

Percy: Ballad of Plain Truth, ii. 292.

Roodselken

Vervain, or “the herb of the cross.”

“Hallowed be thou, vervain, as thou growest in the ground.

For in the Mount of Calvary thou was found.

Thou healcdst Christ our Saviour, and staunchedst His bleeding wound. In the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I take thee from the ground.” Folkard: Plant Lore, p. 47.

Rook

(A). A cheat. “To rook,” to cheat; “to rook a pigeon,” to fleece a greenhorn. Sometimes it simply means, to win from another at a game of chance or skill. (See Rookery .)

“ `My Lord Marquis,' said the king, `you rooked me at piquest last night, for which disloyal deed thou shalt now atone, by giving a couple of pieces to this honest youth, and five to the girl.”— Sir Walter Scott: Peveril of the Peak, chap. xxx.

Rook's Hill (Lavant, Chichester), celebrated for the local tradition that the golden calf of Aaron is buried there.

Rookery

(3 syl.). Any low neighbourhood frequented by thieves and vagabonds. A person fleeced or liable to be fleeced is a pigeon, but those who prey upon these “gulls” are called rooks.

“The demolition of rookeries has not proved an efficient remedy for overcrowding.”— A. Egmont Hake: Free Trade in Capital, chap. xv.

Rooky Wood

(The). Not the wood where rooks do congregate, but the misty or dark wood. The verb reek (to emit vapour) had the preterite roke, rook, or roak; hence Hamilton, in his Wallace, speaks of the “rooky mist.”

“Light thickens, and the crow

Makes wing to the roaky wood.”

Shakespeare: Macbeth, iii. 2.

Room

Your room is better than your company, occurs in Green's Quip for an Upstart Courtier.

Roost

A strong current or furious tide betwixt island groups.

“This lofty promontory is constantly exposed to the current of a strong and furious tide, which, setting in betwixt the Orkney and Zetland islands, and running with force only inferior to that of the Pentland Frith, ... is called the Roost of Samburgh [from the headland].”— Sir Walter Scott: The Pirate, chap. i.

Roost

Gone to roost. Gone to bed. (Anglo—Saxon, hrost.)

“The chough and crow to roost are gone.”

Glce (words by Joanna Baillie, music by Bishop).

Rope

The Brahmin teaches that “whoever hangs himself will wander eternally with a rope round his neck.” (Asiatic Researches.)

Rope

To fight with a rope round one's neck. To fight with a certainty of being hanged unless you conquer.

“You must send in a large force; ... for as he fights with a rope round his neck, he will struggle to the last.”— Kingston: The Three Admirals. viii.

To give one rope enough. To permit a person to continue in wrong—doing, till he reaps the consequences.

Rope

You carry a rope in your pocket (French). Said of a person very lucky at cards, from the superstition that a bit of rope with which a man has been hanged, carried in the pocket, secures luck at cards.

“You have no occupation?' said the Bench, inquiringly, to a vagabond at the bar. `Beg your worship's was the rejoinder: `I deal in bits of halter for the use of gentlemen as plays.” — The Times (French correspondent).

Rope—dancer

(The). Yvo de Grentmesnil, the crusader, one of the leaders of Robert, Duke of Normandy's party against Henry I. of England.

`Ivo was one of those who escaped from Antioch when it was besieged. He was let down by a rope over the wall, and hence called `The Rope—dancer.”' — Gentleman's Magazine.

Rope—dancers Jacob Hall, in the reign of Charles II., greatly admired by the Duchess of Cleveland. Richer, the celebrated rope—dancer at Sadler's Wells (1658).

Signora Violante, in the reign of Queen Anne.

The Turk who astonished everyone who saw him, in the reign of George II. Froissart (vol. iv. chap. xxxviii. fol. 47) tells us of “a mayster from Ceane.” who either slid or walked down a rope suspended to the highest house on St. Michael's bridge and the tower of Our Lady's church, when Isabel of Bavaria made her public entry into Paris. Some say he descended dancing, placed a crown on Isabel's head, and then reascended.

A similar performance was exhibited in London, February 19th, 1546, before Edward VI. The rope was slung from the battlements of St. Paul's steeple. The performer of this feat was a man from Aragon.

The same trick was repeated when Felipe of Spain came to marry Queen Mary. (See Holinshed: Chronicle,

iii. p. 1121.)

Rope—walk

[barristers' slang]. Old Bailey practice. Thus, “Gone into the rope—walk” means, he has taken up practice in the Old Bailey. (See Ropes .)

The ways of London low life are called “ropes” and to know the ropes means to be au fait with the fait of all sorts of dodges. (See Ropes.)

Ropes

Fought back to the ropes. Fought to the bitter end. A pugilistic phrase.

“It is a battle that must be fought game, and right back to the ropes.”— Boldrewood: Robbery Under Arms, chap. xxxiii.

Ropes

Tricks, artifices. A term in horse—racing. To rope a horse is to pull it in or restrain its speed, to prevent its winning a race. When a boxer or any other athlete loses for the purpose, he is accused of roping. “To know the ropes” is to be up to all the dodges of the sporting world. Of course, the ropes mean the reins.

“I am no longer the verdant country squire, the natural prey of swindlers, blacklegs, and sharks. No, sir, I `know the ropes,' and these gentry would find me but sorry sport.”— Truth: Queer Story, September 3rd, 1885.

Ropes

She is on her high ropes. In a distant and haughty temper. The allusion is to a rope—dancer, who looks down on the spectators. The French say, Etre monte sur ses grands chevaux (to be on your high horse).

Roper

Margaret Roper was buried with the head of her father, Sir Thomas More, in her arms.

“Her, who clasped in her last trance

Her murdered father's head.” Tennyson.

Mistress Roper. A cant name given to the marines by British sailors. The wit, of course, lies in the awkward way that marines handle the ship's ropes.

To marry Mistress Roper is to enlist in the marines.

Roque

(1 syl.). A blunt, feeling old man in the service of Donna Floranthe. (George Colman: The Mountaineers.)

Saint Roque. Patron saint of those who suffer from plague or pestilence; this is because “he worked miracles on the plague—stricken, while he was himself smitten with the same judgment.”

Roque Guinart

A famous robber, whose true name was Pédro Rocha Guinarda, leader of los Nicerros, which, with the los Cadelles, levied heavy contributions on all the mountain districts of Catalonia in the seventeenth century. He was a Spanish Rob Roy, and was executed in 1616. (Pellicer.)

Roquelaure A cloak; so called from the Duke de Roquelaure. (George II.)

“ `Your honour's roquelaure,' replied the corporal, `has not once been had on since the night before your honour received your wound:' ”— Sterne: Tristram Shandy; Story of Le Fevre.

Rory O'More

Slang for a door, (Explained under the word CHIVY.)

Ros—crana

Daughter of Cormac, King of Moi—lena, wife of Fingal. (Ossian: Tamora, iv.)

Rosa

(Salvator). An Italian painter, noted for his scenes of savage nature, gloomy grandeur, and awe—creating magnificence. (1615—1673.)

“Whate'er Lorrain light touched with softened hue.

Or savage Rosa dashed, or learnëd Poussin drew.”

Thomson: Castle of Indolence, canto f.

Rosabelle

The favourite palfrey of Mary Queen of Scots. (See Horse .)

“I could almost swear I am at this moment mounted on my own favourite Rosabelle, who was never matched in Scotland for swiftness, for ease of motion, and for sureness of foot,”— Sir

W. Scott: The Abbot, chap. xxxvi.

Rosalia

or St. Rosalie. A native of Palermo, who was carried by angels to an inaccessible mountain, where she lived for many years in the cleft of a rock, a part of which she wore away with her knees in her devotions. If anyone doubts it, let him know that a rock with a hole in it may still be seen, and folke less sceptical have built a chapel there, with a marble statue, to commemorate the event.

“That grot where olives nod,

Where, darling of each heart and eye,

From all the youths of Sicily,

St. Rosalie retired to God.”

Sir Walter Scott: Marmton j. 23

St. Rosalia,

in Christian art, is depicted in a cave with a cross and skull; or else in the act of receiving a rosary or chaplot of roses from the Virgin.

Rosalind

Daughter of the banished duke, but brought up with Celia in the court of Frederick, the duke's brother, and usurper of his dominions. When Rosalind fell in love with Orlando, Duke Frederick said she must leave his house and join her father in the forest of Arden. Celia resolved to go with her, and the two ladies started on their journey. For better security, they changed their names and assumed disguises; Celia dressed herself as a peasant—girl, and took for the nonce the name of Aliena; Rosalind dressed as her brother, and called herself Ganymede. They took up their quarters in a peasant's cottage, where they soon encountered Orlando, and (to make a long tale short) Celia fell in love with Oliver, the brother of Orlando, and Rosalind obtained her father's consent to marry Orlando. (Shakespeare: As You Like It. )

Rosalind, in the Shepherds' Calendar, is the maiden vainly beloved by Colin Clout, as her choice was fixed on a shepherd named Menalcas. (See below.

Rosalinde

(3 syl.). The anagram of “Rose Danil” or “Rose Daniel,” with whom Spenser was in love, but the young lady married John Florio, lexicographer. In the Shepherds' Calendar Rose is called “Rosalinde,” and Spenser calls himself “Colin Clout.” Shakespeare introduces John Florio in Love's Labour's Lost, under the imperfect anagram Holofernes (Hnes Floreo).

Rosaline

(3 syl.). A negress of sparkling wit and great beauty, attending on the Princess of France, and loved by Lord Biron', a nobleman in the suite of Ferdinand, King of Navarre. (Shakespeare: Love's Labour's Lost.)

Rosamond

(Fair). Higden, monk of Chester, says: “She was the fayre daughter of Walter, Lord Clifford, concubine of Henry II., and poisoned by Queen Elianor, A.D. 1177. Henry made for her a house of wonderful working, so that no man or woman might come to her. This house was named Labyrinthus, and was wrought like unto a knot in a garden called a maze. But the queen came to her by a clue of thredde, and so dealt with her that she lived not long after. She was buried at Godstow, in an house of nunnes, with these verses upon her tombe:—

“Hic jacet in tumba Rosa mundi, non Rosa munda;

Non redolet, sed olet., quae redole'rë solet.”

Here Rose the graced, not Rose the chaste, reposes; The smell that rises is no smell of roses. E. C. B.

Rosamond Clifford is introduced by Sir Walter Scott in two of his novels— The Talisman and Woodstock.

“Jane Clifford was her name, as books aver

Fair Rosamond was but her nom de guerre. Dryden: Epilogue to Henry II.

Rosana Daughter of the Queen of Armenia. She aided the three sons of St. George to quench the seven lamps of the Knight of the Black Castle. (The Seven Champions of Christendom, ii. 8—9.) (See Lamps .)

Rosary

[the rose article]. A name given to the bead—roll employed by Roman Catholics for keeping count of their repetitions of certain prayers. It consists of three parts, each of which contains five mystries connected with Christ or His virgin mother. The entire roll consists of 150 Ave Marias, 15 Pater Nosters, and 15 doxologies. The word is said by some to be derived from the chaplet of beads, perfumed with roses, given by the Virgin to St. Dominic. (This cannot be correct, as it was in use A.D. 1100.) Others say the first chaplet of the kind was made of rosewood; others, again, maintain that it takes its name from the “Mystical Rose,” one of the titles of the Virgin. The set is sometimes called “fifteens,” from its containing 15 “doxologies,” 15 “Our Fathers,” and 10 times 15 or 150 “Hail Marys.” (Latin, rosarium.)

The “Devotion of the Rosary” takes different forms:— (1) the Greater Rosary, or recitation of the whole fifteen mysteries; (2) the Lesser Rosary, or recitation of one of the mysteries; and (3) the Living Rosary, or the recitation of the fifteen mysteries by fifteen different persons in combination.

In regard to the “rosewood,” this etymology is extremely doubtful. The beads are now made of berries, wood, stone, ivory, metal, etc., sometimes of considerable value.

Rosciad

A satire published by Charles Churchill in 1761; it canvasses the faults and merits of the metropolitan actors.

Roscius

A first—rate actor; so called from the Roman Roscius, unrivalled for his grace of action, melody of voice, conception of character, and delivery. He was paid thirty pounds a day for acting; Pliny says four thousand a year, and Cicero says five thousand.

“What scene of death hath Roscius now to act?”

Shakespeare: 3 Henry VI., v. 6.

Another Roscius. So Camden terms Richard Burbage (1566—1619).

The British Roscius. Thomas Betterton, of whom Cibber says, “He alone was born to speak what only Shakespeare knew to write.” (1635—1710).

David Garrick (1716—1779).

The Roscius of France. Michel Boyron, generally called Baron. (1653—1729.) The Young Roscius. William Henry West Betty, who in fifty—six nights realised 34,000. (Died 1874, aged 84.)

Rose

Sir John Mandeville says— A Jewish maid of Bethlehem (whom Southey names Zillah) was beloved by one Hamuel, a brutish sot. Zillah rejected his suit, and Hamuel vowed vengeance. He gave out that Zillah was a demoniac, and she was condemned to be burnt; but God averted the flames, the stake budded, and the maid stood unharmed under a rose—tree full of white and red roses, then “first seen on earth since Paradise was lost.”

Rose. An emblem of England. It is also the cognisance of the Richmonds, hence the rose in the mouth of one of the foxes which support the shield in the public—house called the Holland Arms, Kensington. The daughter of the Duke of Richmond (Lady Caroline Lennox) ran away with Mr. Henry Fox, afterwards Baron Holland of Foxley. So the Fox stole the Rose and ran off with it.

Rose

In the language of flowers, different roses have a different signification. For example:— The Burgundy Rose signifies simplicity and beauty.

The China Rose, grace or beauty ever fresh.

The Daily Rose, a smile.

The Dog Rose, pleasure mixed with pain.

A Faded Rose, beauty is fleeting.

The Japan Rose, beauty your sole attraction.

The Moss Rose, voluptuous love.

The Musk Rose, capricious beauty.

The Provence Rose, my heart is in flames.

The White Rose Bud, too young to love.

The White Rose full of buds, secrecy.

A wreath of Roses, beauty and virtue rewarded. The Yellow Rose, infidelity.

Rose

The red rose, says Sir John Mandeville, sprang from the extinguished brands heaped around a virgin martyr at Bethlehem, named Zillah. (See Rose .)

The Red Rose [of Lancaster]. (See Roses, The Wars of the Roses.

The Red Rose (as a public—house sign). Camden says the red rose was the accepted badge of Edmund Plantagenet, who was the second son of Henry III., and of the first Duke of Lancaster, surnamed Crouchbacke. It was also the cognisance of John of Gaunt, second Duke of Lancaster, in virtue of his wife, who was godchild of Edmund Crouch—backe, and his sole heir. (See above.

The white rose, says Sir John Mandeville, sprang from the unkindled brands heaped around the virgin martyr at Bethlehem. (See Rose.)

The White Rose (as a public—house sign) was not first adopted by the Yorkists during the contest for the crown, as Shakespeare says. It was an hereditary cognisance of the House of York, and had been borne by them ever since the title was first created. It was adopted by the Jacobins as an emblem of the Pretender, because his adherents were obliged to abet him sub rosa (in secret).

No rose without a thorn. “There is a crook in every lot” (Boston); “No joy without alloy;” “There is a poison—drop in man's purest cup;” “Every path hath its puddle” (Scotch).

French: “Il n'y a point de roses sans épines,” or “Point de rose sans épine;” “Il n'est si gentil mois d'Avril qui n'ait son chapeau de grésil.”

Italian: “Non v'è rosa senza spina;” “Ogni medaglia ha il suo reverso.” Latin: “Nihil est ab omni parte beatum” (Horace: 2 Odes, x. 27); “Curtæ nescio quid semper abest rei.” Under the rose (sub rosa). In strict confidence. Cupid gave Harpocrates (the god of silence) a rose, to bribe him not to betray the amours of Venus. Hence the flower became the emblem of silence. It was for this reason sculptured on the ceilings of banquet—rooms, to remind the guests that what was spoken sub vino was not to be uttered sub divo. In 1526 it was placed over confessionals. The banquet—room ceiling at Haddon Hall is decorated with roses. (French, parler sous la rose.

Rose

(in Christian art). The attribute of St. Dorothe'a, who carries roses in a basket; of St. Casilda, St. Elizabeth of Portugal, and St. Rose of Viterbo, who carry roses either in their hands or caps. St. Rosalia, St. Angelus, St. Rose of Lima, St. Ascylus, St. Victoria, etc., wear crowns of roses.

“Rose elle a vecu ce que vivent les roses

L'espace d'un matin.”

Malherbe: A Mme. du Perrier, sur la Morto de sa Fille.

Like other roses, thy sweet rose survived

While shone the morning sun, then drooped and died. B. C. B.

Rose

for Rose—noble. A gold coin worth 6s. 8d. struck in 1344, under Edward III.; so called because it had a rose, the badge of the Lancastrians and Yorkists.

“De la pistole,

De la guinée, et de l'obole,

Du louis d'or, du ducaton,

De la rose, et du patagon.”

Jacques Moreau, in Virgils Travesti.

Rose Sunday

The fourth Sunday in Lent, when the Pope blesses the “Golden Rose.” He dips it in balsam, sprinkles it with holy water, and incenses it. Strange as it may seem, Pope Julius II., in 1510, and Leo X. both sent the sacred rose to Henry VIII. In 1856 Isabella II. of Spain received the “Rose;” and both Charlotte, Empress of Mexico, and Eugénie, Empress of France, were honoured by it likewise.

The Rose Alley ambuscade. The attack on Dryden by hired ruffians in the employ of Rochester and the Duchess of Portsmouth, December 18th, 1679. This scandalous outrage was in revenge of a satire by Mulgrave, erroneously attributed to Dryden.

Attacks of this kind were not uncommon in “the age of chivalry;" witness the case of Sir John Coventry, who was waylaid and had his nose slit by some young men of rank for a reflection on the king's theatrical amours. This attack gave rise to the “Coventry Act” against maiming and wounding. Of a similar nature was the cowardly assassination of Mr. Mountford, in Norfolk Street, Strand, by Lord Mohun and Captain Hill, for the hypothetical offence of his admiration for Mrs. Bracegirdle.

The Rose coffee—house, formerly called “The Red Cow,” and subsequently “Will's,” at the western corner of Bow Street, where John Dryden presided over the literature of the town. “Here,” says Malcolm, “appeal was made to him upon every literary dispute.” (Spence: Anecdotes, p. 263.)

This coffee—house is referred to as “Russell Street Coffee House,” and “The Wits' Coffee—house.”

“Will's continued to be the resort of the wits at least till 1710. Probably Addison established his servant [Button] in a new house about 1712.”— Spence: Anecdotes, p. 263.

This Button had been a servant of the Countess of Warwick, whom Addison married; and Button's became the head—quarters of the Whig literati, as Will's had been of the Tory.

Rose of Jericho

Also called Rosa Mariae or Rose of the Virgin.

Rose of Raby

(The). Cicely, the twelfth and youngest daughter of Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland. (1415—1495.)

Roses

The Wars of the Roses. A civil contest that lasted thirty years, in which eighty princes of the blood, a larger portion of the English nobility, and some 100,000 common soldiers were slain. It was a contest between the Lancastrians and Yorkists, whose supporters wore in their caps as badges a red or white rose, the Red rose (gules ) being the cognisance of the House of Lancaster, and the White rose (argent) being the badge of the House of York. (1455—1485.)

Rosemary

is Ros—marinus (seadew), and is said to be “useful in love—making.” The reason is this: Both Venus, the love—goddess, and Rosemary or sea—dew, were offspring of the sea; and as Love is Beauty's son, Rosemary is his nearest relative.

“The sea his mother Venus came on;

And hence some reverend men approve

Of rosemary in making love.”

Butler: Hudibras, pt. ii. c. 1.

Rosemary, an emblem of remembrance. Thus Ophelia says, “There's rosemary, that's for remembrance.” According to ancient tradition, this herb strengthens the memory. As Hungary water, it was once very extensively taken to quiet the nerves. It was much used in weddings, and to wear rosemary in ancient times was as significant of a wedding as to wear a white favour. When the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet asks, “Doth not rosemary and Romeo begin both with a [i.e. one] letter?” she refers to these emblematical characteristics of the herb. In the language of flowers it means “Fidelity in love.”

Rosemary Lane

(London), now called Royal Mint Street.

Rosewood

So called because when cut it yields a perfume like that of roses.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Time—serving courtiers, willing to betray anyone, and do any “genteel” dirty work to please a king. (Shakespeare: Hamlet.)

Rosetta

(Africa). The orchards of Rosetta are filled with turtle—doves.

“Now hangs listening to the doyes

In warm Rosetta.”

T. Moore: Paradise and the Peri.

Rosetta Stone

(The). A stone found in 1799 by M. Boussard, a French officer of engineers, in an excavation made at Fort St. Julien, near Rosetta. It has an inscription in three different languages— the hieroglyphic, the demotic, and the Greek. It was erected B.C. 195, in honour of Ptolemy Epiphanes, because he remitted the dues of the sacerdotal body. The great value of this stone is that it furnished the key whereby the Egyptian hieroglyphics have been deciphered.

Rosicrucians

Not rosa crux, rose cross, but ros crux, dew cross. Dew was considered by the ancient chemists as the most powerful solvent of gold: and cross in alchemy is the synonym of light, because any figure of a cross contains the three letters L V X (light). “Lux” is the menstruum of the red dragon (i.e. corporeal light), and this gross light properly digested produces gold, and dew is the digester. Hence the Rosicrucians are those who used dew for digesting lux or light, with the object of finding the philosopher's stone.

“As for the Rosycross philosophers,

Whom you will have to be but sorcerers,

What they pretend to is no more

Than Trismegistus did before,

Pythagoras, old Zoroaster,

And Apollonius their master.”

Butler: Hudibras, pt. ii. 3.

Ross

(Celtic). A headland; as Roslin, Culross, Rossberg, Montrose, Roxburg, Ardrossan, etc.

Ross, from the Welsh rhos (“a moor"); found in Welsh and Cornish names, as Rossal, Rusholme, etc. The Man of Ross. A name given to John Kyrle, a native of Whitehouse, in Gloucestershire. He resided the greater part of his life in the village of Ross, Herefordshire, and died 1724.

“Who taught that heaven—directed spire to rise? `The Man of Ross,' each lisping babe replies.” Pope: Moral Essays.

Rosse

(2 syl.). A famous sword which the dwarf Elberich gave to Otwit, King of Lombardy. It struck so fine a cut that it left no “gap.” It shone like glass, and was adorned with gold. (See Sword and Balmung .)

“This sword to thee I give: it is all bright of hue;

Whatever it may cleave, no gap will there ensue,

From Almari I brought it, and Rosse is its name;

Wherever swords are drawn, 'twill put them all to shame.” The Heldenbuch.

Rossel

One of Reynard's sons. The word means “reddish.” (Reynard the Fox.)

Rossignol

(French). Rossignol d'Arcadie. A donkey; so called because its bray is quite as remarkable as the nightingale's song, and Arcadia is called the land of asses and fools. (See Fen Nightingale .)

Rostrum

A pulpit; properly the beak of a ship. In Rome, the pulpit from which orators addressed the public was ornamented with the rostra or shipprows taken from the Carthaginians.

Rota

or Rota Men. A political club formed in 1651 by Harrington, author of Oceana. Its objects were to introduce rotation in office, and voting by ballot. It met at the Turk's Head, in New Palace Yard, Westminster, where the members drew up a popular form of commonwealth, which will be found in Harrington's Oceana. It was called Rota because a third part of the members were roted out by ballot every year, and were not eligible for re—election for three years.

Rota Aristotelica

(Aristotle's wheel). A problem in mechanics founded on the motion of a wheel about its axis. First noticed by Aristotle.

Rota Romana

An ecclesiastical court composed of twelve Catholic prelates, to adjudicate when a conflict of rights occurs.

Rote

To learn by rote is to learn by turning words round and round in the memory as a wheel. To “learn by heart” is to learn thoroughly (French, apprendre par caeur). Shakespeare speaks of the “heart of loss,” meaning entire loss, and to love with “all our heart" is to love thoroughly. (Latin, rota, a wheel.)

“Take hackney'd jokes from Miller got by rote.”

Byron: English Bards, etc.

Rothschild

[Red Shield]. Mayer Amschel, in 1763, made his appearance in Hanover barefoot, with a sack on his shoulders and a bundle of rags on his back. Successful in trade, he returned to Frankfort and set up a small shop, over which hung the signboard of a red shield. As a dealer in old coins he became known to William I., Elector of Hesse—Cassel, who appointed him confidential agent. The serene elector being compelled to fly his country Mayer Amschel took charge of his cash, amounting to 250,000. When Napoleon was banished to Elba, and the elector returned, Amschel was dead, but his son Anselm restored the money, an act of noble honesty which the elector mentioned at the Congress of Vienna. Hence arose the greatness of the house, which assumed the name of the Red Shield. In 1863 Charles received six millions sterling as his personal

share and retiring pension from the firm of the five brothers.

Rotten Row

Muster row. Camden derives the word from rotteran (to muster); hence rot, a file of six soldiers. Another derivation is the Norman Ratten Row (roundabout way), being the way corpses were carried to avoid the public thoroughfares. Others suggest Route du roi; and others the Anglo—Saxon rot, pleasant, cheerful; or rotton, referring to the soft material with which the road is covered.

Rotundity of the Belt

(Washington Irving). Obesity; a large projecting paunch; what Shakespeare calls a “fair round belly with good capon lined.” (As You Like It, ii. 7.)

Roue

The profligate Duke of Orleans, Regent of France, first used this word in its modern sense. It was his ambition to collect round him companions as worthless as himself, and he used facetiously to boast that there was not one of them who did not deserve to be broken on the wheel— that being the most ordinary punishment for malefactors at the time; hence these profligates went by the name of Orleans' roués or wheels. The most notörious roués were the Dukes of Richelieu, Broglie, Biron, and Brancas, together with Canillac and Nocé; in England, the Dukes of Rochester and Buckingham.

A notorious roué. A libertine.

Rouen

Aller á Rouen. To go to ruin. The French are full of these puns, and our merry forefathers indulged in them also.

(1) Il a fait son cours à Asnières. He knows nothing; he graduated at Dunse [Dunce] College.

(2) Aller à Cachan. To give leg—bail, or “se cacher” [de ses créanciers]; to go to Hyde [Hide] Park.

(3) Aller à Dourdan. To go to be whipped (douder, être battu); to be on the road to Flogny.

(4) Vous êtes de Lagny, vous n'avez pas hâte. I see you are a man of Laggon. Don't hurry yourself, Mr. Slowcoach.

(5) Il est de Lunel, Il a une chamvre à Lunel, Il est des Luniers d'Orléans, or Il est Logé à la Lune. He îs a lunatic.

(6) Envoyer à Mortaigne. To be slain, or sent to Deadham.

(7) Aller à Patras. To die; to be gathered to one's fathers (ad patres).

(8) Aller à Versailles. To be going to the bad. Here the pun is between Versa—illes and renverser. This wretched pun is about equal to such a phrase as “Going to Downham.”

The Bloody Feast of Rouen (1356). Charles the Dauphin gave a banquet to his private friends at Rouen, to which his brother—in—law Charles the Bad was invited. While the guests were at table King Jean entered the room with a numerous escort, exclaiming, “Traitor, thou art not worthy to sit at table with my son!” Then, turning to his guards, he added, “Take him hence! By holy Paul, I will neither eat nor drink till his head be brought me!” Then, seizing an iron mace from one of the men—at—arms, he struck another of the guests between the shoulders, exclaiming, “Out, proud traitor! by the soul of my father, thou shalt not live!” Four of the guests were beheaded on the spot.

Rouge

(A), i.e. a red cap, a red republican, a democrat.

“She had all the furious prejudices and all the instinctive truths in her of an uncompromising Rouge.”— Ouida: Under Two Flags, chap. xxxiv.

Rouge Croix

One of the pursuivants of the heraldic establishment. So called from the red cross of St. George, the patron saint of England.

Rouge Dragon

The pursuivant founded by Henry VII.; it was the ensign of Cadwaladyr, the last king of the Britons, an ancestor of Henry Tudor.

Rouge et Noir

(French, red and black). A game of chance; so called because of the red and black diamonds marked on the board. The dealer deals out to noir first till the sum of the pips exceeds thirty, then to rouge in the same manner. That packet which comes nearest to thirty—one is the winner of the stakes.

Rough—hewn

Shaped in the rough, not finished, unpolished, ill—mannered, raw; as a “rough—hewn seaman” (Bacon); a “rough—hewn discourse" (Howel).

Rough Music

called in Somersetshire skimmity—riding, and by the Basques toberac. A ceremony which takes place after sunset, when the performers, to show their indignation against some man or woman who has outraged propriety, assemble before the house, and make an appalling din with bells, horns, tin pans, and other noisy instruments.

Rough—shod

Riding rough—shod over one. Treating one without the least consideration. The allusion is to riding a horse rough—shod.

Rough and Ready

Said to be derived from Colonel Rough, who was in the battle of Waterloo. The story says that the Duke of Wellington used to say “Rough and ready, colonel,” and the family adopted the words as their motto.

Rough and Ready

So General Zachary Taylor, twelfth president of the United States, was called. (1786—1853.)

Roughs

(The). The coarse, ill—behaved rabble, without any of the polish of good breeding.

Rouncival

Large, of gigantic size. Certain large bones of antediluvian animals were at one time said to be the bones of the heroes who fell with Roland in Roncesvalles. “Rounceval peas” are those large peas called

“marrowfats,” and a very large woman is called a rouncival.

“Hereof, I take it, it comes that seeing a great woman, we say she is a rouncival.”— Mandeville.

Round

A watchman's beat. He starts from one point, and comes round again to the same place.

To walk the Round. The lawyers used frequently to give interviews to their clients in the Round church; and

“walking the Round” meant loitering about the Round church, under the hope of being hired for a witness.

Round

(To). To whisper. (Anglo—Saxon, runian; German, raunen, to whisper.) (See Rounded .)

That lesson which I will round you in the ear — which I will whisper in your ear. (Bunyan: Pilgrim's Progress.

“France ... rounded in the ear with [by] ... commodity [self—interest] bath resolved to [on] a most base. peace.”— Shakespeare: King John, ii. 1.

“And ner the feend he drough as nought ne were,

Ful privëly, and rounëd in his eere,

`Herkë, my brother, herkë, by thi faith ...

Chaucer: Canterbury Tales, 7132.

Round Dealing

Honest, straight—forward dealing, without branching off into underhand tricks, or deviating from the straight path into the by—ways of finesse.

“Round dealing is the honour of man's nature.”— Bacon.

Round Numbers

(In). In whole numbers, without regarding the fractions. Thus we say the population of the British Isles is forty millions in round numbers, and that of London four millions (1895). The idea is that what is round is whole or perfect, and, of course, fractions, being broken numbers, cannot belong thereto.

Round Peg

Round peg in the square hole, and square peg in the round hole. The wrong man in the wrong place; especially applied to government officials. The expression was used in 1855, by Mr. Layard, speaking of the “Administration Reform Association.” The allusion is to such games as cribage, German tactics, etc.

In 1804, Sydney Smith, in his Moral Philosophy, said: “You choose to represent the various parts in life by holes upon a table. ... We shall generally find that the triangular person has got into the square hole, the oblong into the triangular hole and the round person has squeezed himself into the square hole.”

Round Robin

A petition or protest signed in such a way that no name heads the list. Of course, the signatures are placed in a circular form. The device is French, and the term is a corruption of rond (round) ruban (a ribbon). It was first adopted by the officers of government as a means of making known their grievances.

Round Sum

A good round sum. A large sum of money. Shakespeare says the Justice has a “big round belly, with good capon lined;” and the notion of puffed out or bloated is evidently the idea of Shylock when he says to Bassanio, “'Tis a good round sum.”

Round Table

Made by Merlin at Carduel for Uter Pendragon. Uter gave it to King Leodegraunce, of Camelyard, and King Leodegraunce gave it to Arthur when the latter married Guinever, his daughter. It seated 150 knights, and a place was left in it for the San Graal.

What is usually meant by Arthur's Round Table is a smaller one for the accommodation of twelve favourite knights. Henry VIII. showed Francois I. the table at Winchester, which he said was the one used by the British king.

The Round Table, says Dr. Percy, was not peculiar to the reign of King Arthur, but was common in all the ages of chivalry. Thus the King of Ireland, father of the fair Christabelle, says in the ballad—

“Is there never a knighte of my round table

This matter will undergo?” Sir Cautine.

Round Table. In the eighth year of Edward I., Roger de Mortimer established a Round Table at Kenilworth for “the encouragement of military pastimes.” At this foundation 100 knights and as many ladies were entertained at the founder's expense. About seventy years later, Edward III. erected a splendid table at Windsor. It was 200 feet in diameter, and the expense of entertaining the knights thereof amounted to 100 a week.

A round table. A tournament. “So called by reason that the place wherein they practised those feats was environed with a strong wall made in a round form” (Dugdale). We still talk of tableland.

Holding a round table. Proclaiming or holding a grand tournament. Matthew of Paris frequently calls justs and tournaments Hastilndia Mensae Rotundae (lance games of the Round Table).

Knights of the Round Table. There were 150 knights who had “sieges” at the table. King Leodegraunce

brought over 100 when, at the wedding of his daughter Guinever, he gave the table to King Arthur; Merlin filled up twentyeight of the vacant seats, and the king elected Gawaine and Tor; the remaining twenty were left for those who might prove worthy. (History of Prince Arthur, 45, 46.)

Knights of the Round Table. The most celebrated are Sirs Acolon,* Agravain, Amoral of Wales, Ballamore,* Banier, Beaumans,* Beleobus,* Bevidere, Belvour,* Bersunt,* Bliomberis, Borro or Bors* (Arthur's natural son), Brandiles, Brunor, Caradoc the Chaste (the only knight who could quaff the golden cup), Colgrevance, Dinadam, Driam, Dodynas the Savage, Eric, Floll,* Galahad or Galaad the Modest,* Gareth,* Gaheris,* Galohalt,* Gawain or Gauwin the Gentle* (Arthur's nephew), Grislet,* Hector of Mares (1 syl.) or Ector of Marys,* Iwein or Ewaine* (also written Yvain), Kay,* Ladynas, Lamereck or Lamerock,* Lancelot or Launcelot du Lac* (the seducer of Arthur's wife), Lanval of the Fairy Lance, Lavain, Lionell,* Lucan, Marhaus,* Meliadus, Mordred the Traitor (Arthur's nephew), Morolt or Norhault of the Iron Mace, Paginet,* Palamede or Palamede,* Pharamond, Pelleas,* Pellinore, Persuant of Inde (meaning of the indigo or blue armour), Percivall,* Peredur, Ryence, Sagramour le Desirus, Sagris,* Superbilis,* Tor or Torres*

(repurted son of Arie the cowherd), Tristram or Tristran the Love—lorn,* Turquine,* Wigalois, Wigamor, Ywain (see Iwein).

The thirty marked with a star (*) are seated with Prince Arthur at the Round Table, in the frontispiece of the Famour History of the Renowned Prince Arthur.

“There Galaad sat with manly grace,

Yet maiden meekness in his face;

There Morolt of the iron mace,

And love—lorn Tristrem there;

And Dinadam with lively glance,

And Lanval with the fairy lance,

And Mordred with his looks askance,

Brunor and Bevidere.

Why should I tell of numbers more?

Sir Cay, Sir Banier, and Sir Bore,

Sir Caradoc the keen,

The gentle Gawain's courteous lore,

Hector de Mares, and Pellinore,

And Lancelot, that evermore

Looked stol'n—wise on the queen.”

Sir Walter Scott: Bridal of Triermain, ii. 13.

Knights of the Round Table. Their chief exploits occurred in quest of the San Graal or Holy Cup, brought to Britain by Joseph of Arimathe'a.

Harcourt's Round Table. (See Harcourt's ...)

Round as a Ball;

... as an apple, as an orange, etc.

Roundabout

(A). A Pict's camp.

“His desire of his companion a Pict's camp, or Roundabout,”— Sir W. Scott: The Antiquary, chap. i.

Roundheads

Puritans; so called because they wore their hair short, while the Royalists wore long hair covering their shoulders.

“And ere their butter `gan to coddle,

A bullet churnd i'th Roundhead's noddle.”

Men Miracies, p. 43 (1656).

Roundle

in heraldry, is a charge of a round or circular form. They are of eight sorts, distinguished by their tinctures: (1) a Bezant, tincture “or;” (2) a Plate, tincture “argent;” (3) a Torteau, tincture “gules;” (4) a Hurt, tincture “azure;” (5) an Ogress or Pellet, tincture “sable;” (6) a Golpe, tincture “purpure;” (7) a Guze, tincture “sanguine;” (8) an Orange, tincture “tenney.”

Rounfl

So the Britons called ogres, and the servants or attendants of the ogres they called Grewnds.

Rouse

(A). A contraction of carousal. a drinking bout. (Swedish, rus; Norwegian, ruus, drunkenness; Dutch, roes, a bumper.) Rouse (1 syl.).

“The king doth wake to—night, and takes his rouse.”

Shakespeare: Hamlet, i. 4.

Rousing

A rousing good fire. Rousing means large, great; hence a rousing falsehood (mendacium magnificum).

Rout

(A). A large evening party. (Welsh, rhawter, a crowd.) (See Drum, Hurricane , etc.)

Routiers

Adventurers who made war a trade and let themselves out to anyone who would pay them. So called because they were always on the route or moving from place to place. (Twelfth century.)

Rove

(1 syl.). To shoot with roving arrows— i.e. arrows shot at a roving mark, either in height or distance.

To shoot at rovers. To shoot at certain marks of the target so called; to shoot at random without any distinct aim.

“Unbelievers are said by Clobery to `shoot at rovers.”— Divine Glimpscs, p. 4 (1659).

Running at rovers. Running wild; being without restraint.

Row

(rhyme with now). A tumult. It used to be written roue, and referred to the night encounters of the roués or profligate bon—vivants whose glory it was to attack the “Charleys” and disturb the peace. (See Roue .)

Row (rhyme with low). The Row means “Paternoster Row,” famous for publishing firms and wholesale booksellers, or Rotten Row (q.v.). (AngloSaxon, raw, a line.)

Rowdy

(rhyme with cloudy). A ruffian brawler, a “rough,” a riotous or turbulent fellow, whose delight is to make a row or disturbance.

Rowena

A Saxon princess, and bride of Ivanhoe. (Sir Walter Scott: Ivanhoe.)

Rowland

(See Roland .)

Childe Rowland. Youngest brother of the “fair burd Helen.” Guided by Merlin, he undertook to bring back his sister from Elf—land, whither the fairies had carried her, and succeeded in his perilous exploit. (Ancient Scotch ballad.

“Childe Rowland to the dark tower came;

His word was still `Fie, foh, and fum,

I smell the blood of a Britishman.' “

Shakespeare: King Lear, iii. 4.

Rowley

(Thomas). The fictitious priest of Bristol, said by Chatterton to have been the author of certain poems which he (Chatterton) published.

Rowned in the Ear

Whispered in the ear. The old word rown, rowned (to whisper, to talk in private). Polonius says to the king in Hamlet — “Let his queen—mother all alone entreat him to show his grief— left her be rowned with him;” not blunt and loud, but in private converse. (See Round , To.)

Roxburghe Club

for printing rare works or MSS., the copies being rigidly confined to members of the club. It was called after John, Duke of Roxburghe, a celebrated collector of ancient literature, who died 1812. Since the establishment of this club, others of a similar character have sprung up, as (1) the Camden, Cheetham, Percy, Shakespeare, Surtees, and Wharton, in England; (2) the Abbotsford, Bannatyne, Maitland, and Spalding, in Scotland; and (3) the Celtic Society of Ireland.

Roy

(Le) [or la Reine] s'avisera. This is the royal veto, last put in force March 11, 1707, when Queen Anne refused her assent to a Scotch Militia Bill.

During the agitation for Catholic emancipation, George III. threatened a veto, but the matter was not brought to the test.

Royal Arms

worn by a subject. (See Lane .)

Royal Goats

(The). The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, noted for their nanny—goat. This gallant regiment was at Blenheim, Oudenarde, Malplaquet, Dettingen, Vittoria, Alma, Inkermann, and many another field.

Royal Merchant

In the thirteenth century the Venetians were masters of the sea, and some of their wealthy merchants— as the Sanudos, the Justiniani, the Grimaldi, and others— erected principalities in divers places of the Archipelago, which their descendants enjoyed for many centuries. These self—created princes were called “royal merchants.” (Warburton.)

“Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,

That have of late so huddled on his back,

Enough to press a royal merchant down.”

Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice. iv. 1.

Sir Thomas Gresham was called a “royal merchant.”

Royal Road to Learning

Euclid, having opened a school of mathematics at Alexandria, was asked by King Ptolemy whether he could not explain his art to him in a more compendious manner. “Sir,” said the geometrician, “there is no royal road to learning.”

Royal Titles

(1) Of England— Henry IV. was styled His Grace; Henry VI., His Excellent Grace; Edward IV., High and Mighty Prince; Henry VII., His Grace and His Majesty; Henry VIII., His Highness, then His Majesty, Subsequently kings were styled His Sacred Majesty. Our present style is Her Most Gracious Majesty. (2) Royal titles, their meaning: A bimelech (Father King ). Autocrat (self—potentate, i.e. absolute). Caesar

(in compliment to Julius Caesar). Calif (successor). Cham (chieftain). Czar (autocrat, a contraction of Samodersheta). Darius (holder of the empire). Duke (leader). Emperor (commander). Hospodar (Slavonic, master of the house). Kaiser (Caesar). Khan (provincial chief ). Khedive (suzerain). King (father). Landgrave (land reeve). Maharajah (great sovereign). Margrave (border reeve). Nejus (lord protector). Nizam (ruler). Pharaoh (light of the world). Queen (mother). Rajah (prince or sovereign). Shah or Padishah (protector, sceptred protector). Sheik (elder). Sultan (ruler).

Royston

(Herts) means king's town; so called in honour of King Stephen, who erected a cross there. (French, roy.)

A Royston horse and Cambridge Master of Arts will give way to no one. A Cambridgeshire proverb. Royston was a village famous for malt, which was sent to London on horseback. These heavyladen beasts never moved out of the way. The Masters of Arts, being the great dons of Cambridge, had the wall conceded to them by the inhabitants out of courtesy.

Rozinante

(4 syl.) A wretched jade of a riding—horse. Don Quixote's horse was so called. (Spanish, rocin—ante, a hack before.)

“It is the only time he will sit behind the wretched Rosinante, and it would be Quixotic of him to expect speed.”— London Review.

(See Horse.)

Ruach

The Isle of Winds, visited by Pantagruel and his fleet on their way to the Oracle of the Holy Bottle, is the isle of windy hopes and unmeaning flattery. The people of this island live on nothing but wind, eat nothing but wind, and drink nothing but wind. They have no other houses but weathercocks, seeing everyone is obliged to shift his way of life to the ever—changing caprice of court fashion; and they sow no other seeds but the wind—flowers of promise and flattery. The common people get only a fan—puff of food very occasionally, but the richer sort banquet daily on huge mill—draughts of the same unsubstantial stuff. (Rabelais: Pantagruel, iv. 43.)

Rub

An impediment. The expression is taken from bowls, where “rub" means that something hinders the free movement of your bowl.

“Without rub or interruption.”— Swift.

“Like a bowle that runneth in a smooth allie.

Without anie rub.” '— Staniharst, p. 10.

Rubber of Whist

(A). A game of cards called “whilst.” “Rubber” is transferred from bowls, in which the collision of two balls is a rubber, because they rub against each other.

Rubens' Women

The portrait of Helena Forman or Fourment, his second wife, married at the age of 16, introduced in several of his historical paintings; but the woman in Rubens and His Wife, in the Munich gallery, is meant for Isabella Brandt, of Antwerp, his first wife.

Rubi One of the Cherubim or “Spirits of Knowledge,” who was present when Eve walked in Paradise. He felt the most intense interest in her, and longed, as the race increased, to find one of her daughters whom he could love. He fixed upon Liris, young and proud, who thirsted for knowledge, and cared not what price she paid to obtain it. After some months had elapsed, Liris asked her angel lover to let her see him in his full glory; so Rubi showed himself to her in all his splendour, and she embraced him. Instantly Liris was burnt to ashes by the radiant light, and the kiss she gave on the àngel's forehead became a brand, which shot agony into his brain. That brand was “left for ever on his brow,” and that agony knew no abatement. (Thomas Moore: Loves of the Angels, story ii.)

Rubicon

To pass the Rubicon. To adopt some measure from which it is not possible to recede. Thus, when the Austrains, in 1859, passed the Ticino, the act was a declaration of war against Sardinia; and in 1866, when the Italians passed the Adige, it was a declaration of war against Austria. The Rubicon was a small river separating ancient Italy from Cisalpine Gaul (the province allotted to Julius Caesar). When Caesar crossed this stream he passed beyond the limits of his own province and became an invader of Italy.

Rubonax

Sir Philip Sidney says, Rubonax “was driven by a poet's verses to hang himself.” (Defence of Poesie.)

Rubric

(from the Latin rubrica, “red ochre,” or “vermilion"). An ordinance or law was by the Romans called a rubric, because it was written with vermilion, in contradistinction to praetorian edicts or rules of the court, which were posted on a white ground. (Juvenal, xiv. 192.)

“Rubrica vetavit” = the law has forbidden it. (Persius, v. 99.)

“Praetores edicta sua in albo proponebant, acrubricas [i.e. jus civile] translalerunt.”— Quintilian, xii. 3, 11.

“Rules and orders directing how, when, and where all things in divine service are to be performed were formerly printed in red characters (now generally in italics), and called rubrics.”— Hook: Church Dictionary.

Ruby

The King of Ceylon has the finest ruby ever seen. “It is a span long, as thick as a man's arm, and without a flaw.” Kublai—Khan offered the value of a city for it, but the king answered that he would not part with it if all the treasures of the world were laid at his feet. (Marco Polo.)

Ruby

(The). The ancients considered the ruby to be an antidote of poison, to preserve persons from plague, to banish grief, to repress the ill effects of luxuries, and to divert the mind from evil thoughts.

Ruby

(The Perfect). The philosopher's stone. (See Flower Of The Sun .)

Ruchiel

God of the air. (Hebrew, ruch, air; el, god.) ( Jewish mythology.)

Rudder

Who won't be ruled by the rudder must be ruled by the rock. Who won't listen to reason must bear the consequences, like a ship that runs upon a rock if it will not answer the helm.

Ruddock

The redbreast, “sacred to the household gods.” The legend says if a redbreast finds a dead body in the woods it will “cover it with moss.” Drayton alludes to this tradition—

“Covering with moss the dead's unclosed eye,

The little redbreast teacheth charitie.”

The Owl.

Shakespeare makes Arviragus say over Imogen—

“Thou shalt not lack The flower that's like thy face, pale primrose; nor The azured harebell ... the ruddock would With charitable bill ... bring thee all these.” Cymbcline, iv. 2.

So also in the folk tale of The Babes in the Wood—

“The Robins so red

Fresh strawberry—leaves did over them spread.”

Ruddy—mane

[Bloody—hand]. The infant son of Sir Mordant: so called because his hand was red with his mother's blood. She had stabbed herself because her husband had been paralysed by a draught from an enchanted stream. (Spenser: Faërie Queene, bk. ii. 1, 3.)

Rudge

(Barnaby). A half—witted lad, who had for his companion a raven. (Dicken's: Barnby Rudge.)

Rudiger

(3 syl.). Margrave of Bechelaren, a wealthy Hun, liegeman of King Etzel. In the Nibelungen—Lied he is represented as a most noble character. He was sent to Burgundy by King Etzel, to conduct Kriemhild to Hungary if she would consent to marry the Hunnish king. When Gunther and his suite went to pay a visit to Kriemhild, he entertained them all most hospitably, and gave his daughter in marriage to Kriemhild's youngest brother, Giselher: and when the broil broke out in the dining—hall of King Etzel, and Rudiger was compelled to take part against the Burgundians, he fought with Kriemhild's second brother, Gernot. Rudiger struck Gernot “through his helmet,” and the prince struck the margrave “through shield and morion,” and “down dead dropped both together, each by the other slain.”— Nibelungen—Lied.

Rudolphine Tables

(The). Tabulae Rudolphinae, 1627. Astronomical calculations begun by Tycho Brahé, and continued by Kepler, under the immediate patronage of Kaiser Rudolph II., after whom Kepler named the work.

Rudolph gave Tycho Brahé an annuity of 1,500 sterling. George III. gave Herschel an annuity of 200.

Rudolstadt

(La Comtesse de), or “Consuelo,” who marries the Count of Rudolstadt. (Romance by George Sand: Madame Dudevant.) (See Consuelo .)

Rudra

Father of the tempest—gods. The word means “run about crying,” and the legend says that the boy ran about weeping because he had no name, whereupon Brahma said, “Let thy name be Rud—dra.” (Sanskrit, rud, weep; dra, run.) (Vedic mythology.)

Rue

to grieve for something done, to repent, is the Anglo—Saxon reow, contrition; German, reue. Rue (1 syl.).

Rue

called “herb of grace,” because it was employed for sprinkling holy water. Without doubt it was so used symbolically, because to rue means to be sorry, and penitence brings the water of grace with it. (Latin, ruta, from the Greek rhuo, so called because it sets persons free from disease and death.) (See Difference .) Ophelia says—

“There's rue for you, and here's some for me! we may call it `herb of grace' o' Sundays.”— Shakespeare: Hamlet, iv. 5.

Rue

A slip of land (free of all manorial charges and claims) encompassing or bounding manorial land. It certainly is not derived from the French rue, a street, nor is it a corruption of row. (See Rewe .)

Rewe is a roll or slip, hence Ragman's rewe or roll (q.v.).

“There is a whole world of curious history contained in the phrase Ragman's rewe, meaning a roll. In Piers Plowman's Vision, the pope's bull is called a rewe.”— Edinburgh Review, July, 1870.

Ruffe

(1 syl.). A game at cards, now called slamm; also playing a trump, when one cannot follow suit.

“A swaggerer is one that plays at ruffre, from whence he took the denomination of ruffyn.”—

J. H. (Gent.) Satirical Epigrams, 1619.

Ruffian Hall

That part of West Smithfield which is now the horse—market, where “tryals of skill were plaid by ordinary ruffianly people with sword and buckler.” (Blount, p. 562.)

Rufus

(The Red). William II. of England. (1056, 1087—1100.)

Otho II. of Germany; also called The Bloody. (955, 973—983.) Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, son—in—law of Edward I. (Slain 1313.)

Ruggiero

(See Rogero .)

Rukenaw

(Dame). The ape's wife in the tale of Reynard the Fox. The word means noisy insolence.

Rule

(St.) or St. Regulus, a monk of Patrae in Achaia, is the real saint of Scotland. He was the first to colonise its metropolitan see, and to convert the inhabitants (370). The name Killrule (Cella Reguli) perpetuates this fact. St. Andrew superseded the Achaean.

“But I have solemn vows to pay. ...

To far St. Andrew's bound,

Within the ocean—cave to pray,

Where good St. Rule his holy lay

Sung to the billow's sound.”

Sir Walter Scott: Marmion, i. 20.

Rule, Britannia

Words by Thomson, author of The Seasons; music by Dr. Arne. It first appeared in a masque entitled Alfred, in which the name of David Mallett is associated with that of James Thomson, and some think he was the real author of this “political hymn.” (August 1, 1740.)

Rule Nisi. A

“rule” is an order from one of the superior courts, and a “rule nisi” is such an order “to show cause.” That is, the rule is to be held absolute unless the party to whom it applies can “show cause" why it should not be so.

Rule of Thumb

(The). A rough guess—work measure. Measuring lengths by the thumb. In some places the heat required in brewing is determined by dipping the thumb into the vat.

Rule of thumb. In the legend of Knockmany Fin, Mr. Coul says:—

“ `That baste Cucullin [is coming]. ... for my thumb tells me so.' To which his wife replies: `Well, my Cully, don't be cast down. ... Maybe I'll bring you better out of this scrape than ever you could bring yourself by your rule of thumb [referring to the pricking of the thumb].' ”— W. B. Yeats: Fairy Tales of the Irish Peasantry, p. 270.

Again, p. 274, Fin knew by the “pricking of his thumb” that the giant Cucullin would arrive at two o'clock. In these cases the “rule of thumb” refers to the prognostics of the thumb, referred to by the witches of Macheth. “By the pricking of my thumbs, something evil this way comes.”

Rule of the Road

(The).

“The rule of the road's an anomaly quite,

In riding or driving along:

If you go to the left you are sure to go right,

If you go to the right you go wrong.”

It is not so in France.

Rule the Roost

(To). The cock rules which of the hens is to have the honour of roosting nearest him. (See under Roast .)

“Geate you nowe up into your pulpittes like bragginge cocks on the rowst, flappe your winges and crowe out aloude.”— Jewell.

Rum

Queer, quaint, old—fashioned. This word was first applied to Roman Catholic priests, and subsequently to other clergymen. Thus Swift speaks of “a rabble of tenants and rusty dull rums” (country parsons). As these

“rusty dull rums” were old—fashioned and quaint, a “rum fellow" came to signify one as odd as a “rusty dull rum.”

Professor De Morgan thought that the most probable derivation was from booksellers trading with the West Indies. It is said that in the eighteenth century they bartered books for rum, but set aside chiefly such books as would not sell in England.

Ruminate

(3 syl.). To think, to meditate upon some subject; properly, “to chew the cud” (Latin, rumino).

“To chew the cud of sweet and bitter fancy.”—

Milton.

“On a flowery bank he chews the cud.”— Dryden.

Rumolt

Gunther's chief cook.

“Sore toiled the chief cook, Rumolt; ah! how his orders ran

Among his understrappers! how many a pot and pan,

How many a mighty cauldron rattled and rang again!

They dressed a world of dishes for the expected train.”

Lettsom's Nibelungen—Lied, stanza 800.

Rump—fed that is, fed on scraps, such as liver, kidneys, chitlings, and other kitchen perquisites.

“Aroint thee, witch! the rump—fed ronyon cries.” Shakespeare: Macbeth, i. 3.

A ronyon or ronian is a kitchen wench fed on scraps (French, rognon, a kidney).

Rump Parliament

Oliver Cromwell (1648) sent two regiments to the House of Commons to coerce the members to condemn Charles I. Forty—one were seized and imprisoned in a lower room of the House, 160 were ordered to go home, and the sixty favourable to Cromwell were allowed to remain. These sixty were merely the fag—end or rump of the whole House. (See Pride's Purge .)

The name was revived again in the protectorate of Richard Cromwell. Subsequently the former was called The Bloody Rump, and the latter The Rump of a Rump.

“The few,

Because they're wasted to the stumps,

Are represented best by rumps.”

Butler: Hudibras, pt. iii. 2.

Rumpelstilzchen

[Rumple—stiltsskin]. A passionate little deformed dwarf. A miller's daughter was enjoined by a king to spin straw into gold, and the dwarf did it for her, on condition that she would give him her first child. The maiden married the king, and grieved so bitterly when her first child was born that the dwarf promised to relent if within three days she could find out his name. Two days were spent in vain guesses, but the third day one of the queen's servants heard a strange voice singing—

“Little dreams my dainty dame

Rumpelstilzchen is my name.”

The queen, being told thereof, saved her child, and the dwarf killed himself with rage. (German Popular Stories.)

Rumping Dozen

A corruption of Rump and Dozen, meaning a rump of beef and a dozen of claret; or a rump steak and dozen oysters.

Run

A long run, a short run. We say of a drame, “It had a long run,” meaning it attracted the people to the house, and was represented over and over again for many nights. The allusion is to a runner who continues his race for a long way. The drama ran on night after night without change.

In the long run. In the final result. This allusion is to race—running: one may get the start for a time, but in the long run, or entire race, the result may be different. The hare got the start, but in the long run the patient perseverance of the tortoise won the race.

To go with a run. A seaman's phrase. A rope goes with a run when it is let go entirely, instead of being slackened gradually.

Run Amuck

(See Amuck .)

“It was like a Malay running amuck, only with a more deadly weapon.”— The Times.

“Frontless and satire—proof he scours the streets,

And runs an Indian—muck at all he meets.”

Dryden: The Hind and the Panther.

Run a Rig (To). To play a trick, to suffer a sportive trick. Thus, John Gilpin, when he set out, “little thought of running such a rig” as he suffered. Florio gives as a meaning of rig, “the tricks of a wanton;” hence frolicsome and deceptive tricks. The rig of a ship means the way it is rigged, hence its appearance: and, as pirates deceive by changing the rig of their vessel, so rig came to mean a trick to deceive, a trick, a frolicsome deception.

Run Riot

(To). To run wild. A hunting term, meaning to run at a whole herd.

Run Thin

(To). To start from a bargain. When liquor runs thin it indicates that the cask is nearly empty.

Run a Man Down

(To). To abuse, depreciate. A hunting term.

Run of the House

(The). He has the run of the house. Free access to it, and free liberty to partake of whatever comes to table. A “run of events” means a series of good, bad, and indifferent, as they may chance to succeed each other. And the “run of the house” means the food and domestic arrangements as they ordinarily occur.

Runs

The tub runs— leaks, or lets out water. In this and all similar phrases the verb run means to “be in a running state.” Thus we have “the ulcer runs,” “the cup runs over,” “the rivers run blood,” “the field runs with blood.”

Runs may Read

(He that). The Bible quotation in Habakkuk ii. 2 is, “Write the vision, and make it plain, that he may run that readeth it.” Cowper says—

“But truths, on which depends our main concern...

Shine by the side of every path we tread

With such a lustre, he that runs may read.”

Tirocinium.

Running

Quite out of the running. Quite out of court, not worthy of consideration. A horse which has been “scratched” is quite out of the running. (See Scratched .)

Running Footman

The last of these menials died out with the infamous Duke of Queensberry. In the early part of the eighteenth century no great house was complete without some half—dozen of them. Their duty was to run before and alongside the fat Flemish mares of the period, and advise the innkeeper of the coming guests. The pole which they carried was to help the cumbrous coach of their master out of the numerous sloughs on the northern and western high—roads. (See Bow Street Runners, Estafette .)

Running Leather

His shoes are made of running leather. He is given to roving. Probably the pun is between roar and run.

Running Thursday

In the beginning of the reign of William III. a rumour ran that the French and Irish Papists had landed; a terrible panic ensued, and the people betook themselves to the country, running for their lives. Joseph Perry says: “I was dismally affrighted the day called Running Thursday. It was that day the report reached our town, and I expected to be killed” (his Life). The day in question was Thursday, Dec. 13, 1688.

Running Water

No enchantment can subsist in a living stream; if, therefore, a person can interpose a brook betwixt himself and the witches, sprites, or goblins chasing him, he is in perfect safety. Burns' tale of Tam o'Shanter turns upon this superstition.

Running the Hood

It is said that an old lady was passing over Haxey Hill, when the wind blew away her hood. Some boys began tossing it from one to the other, and the old lady so enjoyed the fun that she bequeathed thirteen acres of land, that thirteen candidates might be induced to renew the sport on the 6th of every January.

Runcible Spoon

(A). A horn spoon with a bowl at each end, one the size of a table—spoon and the other the size of a tea—spoon. There is a joint midway between the two bowls by which the bowls can be folded over

Runes

The earliest alphabet in use among the Gothic tribes of Northern Europe. The characters were employed either for purposes of secrecy or for divination. Rim is Gaelic for “secret,” and helrin means “divination.”

There were several sorts of runes in Celtic mythology: as (1) the Evil Rune. employed when evil was invoked; (2) the Securable Rune, to secure from misadventure: (3) the Victorious Rune, to procure victory over enemies; (4) Medicinal Rune, for restoring to health the indisposed, or for averting danger: and (5) the Maledictory Rune. to bring down curses on enemies. (Compare Balaam and Balak.)

Runic Rhymes

Rhymes in imitation of the Edda or Book of Runic Mythology; rude, old—fashioned poetry of a Runic stamp.

Runic Wands

Willow wands with mystic characters inscribed on them, used by the Scandinavians for magic ceremonies.

Runnymede

The nom de guerre of Disraeli in the Times. (1805—1881.)

Rupee

A silver coin = 2s. English (a florin). A lac of rupees = 10,000 sterling. Since the depreciation of silver the value of a rupee is considerably less.

In 1870 an ounce of silver was worth 60 1/2d.; in 1876 it fell to 49d.; to—day (May, 1895) it is quoted between 58d. and 59d.; and at New York at 673/8d. per ounce.

Rupert of Debate

Edward Geoffrey, fourteenth Earl of Derby. It was when he was Mr. Stanley, and the opponent of the great O (i.e. O'Connell), that Lord Lytton so describes him. (1799—1869.)

“The brilliant chief, irregularly great,

Frank, baughty, bold— the Rupert of Debate.”

New Timon.

Rupert's Balls

or Prince Rupert's Drops. Glass bubbles first brought to England by Prince Rupert. Each bubble has a tail, and if the smallest part of the tail is broken off the bubble explodes. The French term is larme Batavique, because these toys were invented in Holland.

“The first production of an author ... is usually esteemed as a sort of Prince Rupert's drop, which is destroyed entirely if a person make on it but a single scratch.”— Household Words.

Rupert's Head

(Sir), Devonshire. The legend is that the young wife of Sir Rupert Leigh eloped with a paramour, and the guilty pair, being pursued, were overtaken on the Red Cliff. The woman fell over the cliff, and the paramour sneaked off; but Sir Rupert let himself down some thirty feet, took up the fallen woman, and contrived to save her. She was terribly mutilated, and remained a sad disfigured cripple till death, but Sir Rupert nursed her with unwearied zeal. From this story the cliff received its name.

Rush

Not worth a rush. Worthless. The allusion is to the practice of strewing floors with rushes before carpets were invented. Distinguished guests had clean fresh rushes, but those of inferior grade had either the rushes which had been already used by their superiors, or none at all. The more modern expression is “Not worth a straw.”

“Strangers have green rushes, when daily guests are not worth a rush.”— Lilly: Sappho and Phaon.

Friar Rush. Will—o'—the—Wisp; a strolling demon, who once on a time got admittance into a monastery as a scullion, and played the monks divers pranks. (See Friar's Lanthorn.)

Rush—bearing Sunday

A Sunday, generally near the time of the festival of the saint to whom the church is dedicated, when anciently it was customary to renew the rushes with which the church floor was strewed. The festival is still observed at Ambleside, Westmoreland, on the last Sunday in July, the church being dedicated to St. Anne, whose day is July 26. The present custom is to make the festival a flower Sunday, with rushes and flowers formed into fanciful devices. The preceding Saturday is a holiday, being the day when the old rushes were removed.

Rushvan

The angel who opens and shuts the gates of Paradise or Al Janat. (The Koran.)

Ruskinese

(3 syl.). Words and phrases introduced by Ruskin, or coined a la Ruskin. The word is used in The Times:—

“Such writers as Ruskin and Carlyle have made for themselves technical terms, words, and phrases; some of which will be incorporated into the language ... while others may remain emblems of Ruskinese and Carlylism.”— June 11, 1869.

Russ

The Russian language; a Russian.

Russel A common name given to a fox, from its russet colour.

“Dann Russel, the fox, stert up at cones,

And by the garget hente Chaunteclere

And on his bak toward the wood him here.”

Chaucer: The Nonne Prestes Tale.

Russia

“Great Russia” is Muscovy. “White or Little Russia” is that part acquired in 1654 by Alexei Mikalowitch, including Smolensk. The emperor is called the “Czar of All the Russias.” (See Black Russia .)

Russian

The nickname of a Russian is “a Bear,” or the “Northern Bear.”

Rustam

The Deev—bend and Persian Hercules, famous for his victory over the white dragon named Asdeev. He was the son of Zâl, prince of Sedjistan. The exploits attributed to him must have been the aggregate of exploits performed by numerous persons of the same name. His combat for two days with Prince Isfendiar is a favourite subject with the Persian poets. The name of his horse was Reksh. Matthew Arnold's poem, Sohrab and Rustam, gives an account of Rustam fighting with and killing his son Sohrab.

Rusty

He turns rusty. Like a rusty bolt, he sticks and will not move.

Rusty—Fusty

That odour and filth which accumulates on things and in places not used.

“Then from the butchers we bought lamb and sheepe.

Beer from the alehouse, and a broome to sweepe Our cottage, that for want of use was musty,

And most extremely rusty—fusty dusty.”

Taylor: Workes, ii. 24.

Ruydera

The duenna of Belerma She had seven daughters, who wept so bitterly at the death of Durandarte. that Merlin, out of pity, turned them into lakes or estuaries. (Don Quixote pt. ii. bk. ii. ch. 6.)

Ry

A Stock Exchange expression for any sharp or dishonest practice. It originated in an old stock—jobber, who had practised upon a young man, and, being compelled to refund, wrote on the cheque, “Please to pay to

R. Y.” etc., in order to avoid direct evidence of the transaction.

Rye—house Plot

A conspiracy to assassinate Charles II. and his brother James on their way from Newmarket. As the house in which the king was lodging accidentally caught fire, the royal party left eight days sooner than they had intended, and the plot miscarried. It was called the Rye House Plot because the conspirators met at the Rye House Farm, in Hertfordshire. (1683.)

Rykell

(John). A celebrated tregetour in the reign of Henry V. (See Tregetour .)

“Maister John Rykell sometime tregitour

Of noble Henry, kinge of Englande,

And of France the mighty conquerour.”

John Lidgate: Dance of Macabre.

Rykelot

A magpie (?); a little rook. The German roche, Anglo—Saxon hroc, seem to be cognate words. The last syllable is a diminutive.

Rymar

(Mr. Robert). Poet at the Spa. (Sir Walter Scott: St. Ronan's Well.)

Ryme The Frost giant, the enemy of the elves and fairies. At the end of the world this giant is to be the pilot of the ship Naglefarë. (Scandinavian mythology.)

Ryot

A tenant in India who pays a usufruct for his occupation. The Scripture parable of the husbandmen refers to such a tenure; the lord sent for his rent, which was not money but iruits, and the husbandmen stoned those who were sent, refusing to pay their “lord.” Ryots have an hereditary and perpetual right of occupancy so long as they pay the usufruct, but if they refuse or neglect payment may be turned away.

Ryparographer

(Greek). So Pliny calls Pyricus the painter, because he confined himself to the drawing of ridiculous and gross pictures, in which he greatly excelled. Rabelais was the ryparographer of wits. (Greek, ruparos, foul, nasty.)

Rython

A giant of Bretagne, slain by King Arthur.

“Rython, the mighty giant slain

By his good brand, relieved Bretagne.”

Sir Walter Scott: Bridal of Triermain, ii. 11.