Roast | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Rōast, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. ROASTED; p. pr. & vb. n. ROASTING.] [D. roosten, O. H. Ger. rôstjan, N. H. Ger. rösten, Sw. rosta, Dan. riste, O. Fr. rostir, N. Fr. rôtir, Pr. raustir, It. arrostire, W. rhostiaw, Armor. rosta, Gael. rôist.]

Sense 1. To cook, dress, or prepare, as meat for the table, by exposure to heat, before the fire, or in an oven.

Sense 2. To prepare for food by exposure to heat; as, to roast apples or potatoes; to roast eggs.

Sense 3. To dry and parch by exposure to heat; as, to roast coffee.

Sense 4. Hence, to heat to excess; to heat violently. “Roasted in wrath and fire.” Shak.

Sense 5. (Metal.) To dissipate by heat the volatile parts of, as ores.

Sense 6. To banter severely; to jeer. [Colloq.] Scott.

Rōast, n.

noun

n. That which is roasted.

To rule the roast, to take the lead; to domineer. “The new-made duke that rules the roast.” Shak.

☞ The origin of this phrase is uncertain. Johnson says, “It was originally, perhaps, roist, which signified a tumult; to direct the populace.” Richardson says, “May it not be to rule the roost;—an expression of which every poultry yard would supply an explanation.”

— To smell of the roast, to be prisoners. [Obs.]

Rōast, a.

adjective

[For roasted.] Roasted; as, roast beef.

Rōast, v. i.

verbintransitive

To be cooked by exposure to heat before a fire; to be roasted.