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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. Rŏck'-bā'sin, n.p. 1145A cavity or artificial basin cut in a rock, for the purpose, as is supposed, of collecting the dew or rain for ablutions and purifications prescribed by the Druidical religion. Grosier.
  2. Röck'-būt/ter, n.p. 1145(Min.) Native alum mixed with clay and oxide of iron, usually in soft masses of a yellowish-white color, occurring in cavities and fissures in argillaceous slate. Buchanan.
  3. Rŏck'-cŏd, n.p. 1145A cod that is taken on rocky sea-bottoms.
  4. Röck'-côrk, n.p. 1145(Min.) A variety of asbestos, the fibers of which are loosely interlaced. It resembles cork in its texture. Dunn.
  5. Rŏck'-crĕss, n.p. 1145(Bot.) A plant of the genus Arabis;—called also wall-cress.
  6. Rŏck'-crys'tal, n.p. 1145(Min.) Limpid quartz. ☞ When purest it is colorless, but it occurs of various colors, as white, red, smoke-brown, black, &c. The clear yellow is sometimes called false topaz or citrine. Its most…
  7. Röck'-dōe, n.p. 1145(Zoöl.) A species of deer. Grew.
  8. Rŏck'-e-lāy, n.p. 1145A short cloak; roquelaure. W. Scott.
  9. Rŏck'er, n.p. 1145One who rocks the cradle. It was I, sir, said the rocker, who had the honor, some thirty years since, to attend on your highness in your infancy. Fuller. 2. The curving piece of wood on which a…
  10. Rŏck'er-y, n.p. 1145(Gardening.) An elevation formed of earth, stones, &c., for plants; rock-work. See ROCK-WORK, 2.
  11. Rŏck'et, n.p. 1145An artificial firework, consisting of a cylindrical case of paper filled with a composition of combustible ingredients, as niter, charcoal, and sulphur. This being tied to a stick and fired, the case…
  12. Rŏck'et, n.p. 1145(Bot.) A plant of the genus Eruca. E. sativum, or garden rocket, is sometimes eaten on the continent of Europe as a salad, when young and tender. Baird. ☞ The name is also applied to plants of the…
  13. Rŏck'-fĭsh, n.p. 1145(Ichth.) A salt-water fish; a species of goby; Gobius niger.
  14. Rŏck'-gōat, n.p. 1145A goat which makes its home among the rocks. Holland.
  15. Rŏck'-i-ness, n.p. 1145The state of being rocky.
  16. Röck'ing-châir, n.p. 1145A chair mounted on rockers.
  17. Rŏck'ing-hôrse, n.p. 1145The figure of a horse, made of wood or other material, and mounted upon rockers, for children.
  18. Rŏck'ing-stōne, n.p. 1145A stone, often of great size and weight, resting upon another stone, and so exactly poised on some edge or corner, that it can be rocked, or slightly moved, with but little force.
  19. Rŏck'-less, a.p. 1145Being without rocks. Dryden.
  20. Röck'ling, n.p. 1145(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Motella (M. vulgaris), belonging to the cod family; whistle-fish.
  21. Röck'-milk, n.p. 1145(Min.) A loose, friable variety of carbonate of lime, deposited from waters containing it in solution. Dana.
  22. Rŏck'-mŏss, n.p. 1145(Bot.) A lichen of the genus Lecanora (L. tartarea), from which cudbear is obtained.
  23. Röck'-oil, n.p. 1145The same as PETROLEUM.
  24. Rŏck'-pig'eŏn, n.p. 1145A species of pigeon (Columba livia) found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. It inhabits rocks and caves, and is considered to be the original of the domestic pigeons.
  25. Rŏck'-plănt, n.p. 1145A plant distinguished by growing on or among naked rocks. P. Cyc.
  26. Rŏck'-răb'bit, n.p. 1145(Zoöl.) See HYRAX.
  27. Rŏck'-rōse, n.p. 1145(Bot.) (a.) A plant of the genus Cistus, found on the coasts of the Mediterranean in both Europe and Africa. C. Cretica (the Cretan rock-rose) affords the fragrant gum known as ladanum, or labdanum.…
  28. Rŏck'-rŭ'by, n.p. 1145(Min.) A fine reddish variety of garnet. Dana.
  29. Rŏck'-salt, n.p. 1145(Min.) Chloride of sodium or common salt occurring in rock-like masses in mines; mineral salt; salt dug from the earth. ☞ In the United States, this name is sometimes given to salt in large crystals…
  30. Rŏck'-sháft, n.p. 1145(Mech.) A shaft that oscillates on its journals, instead of revolving; more strictly, a vibrating shaft for modifying motion in the valve-gear of a steam-engine;—called also rocker and rocking-shaft.
  31. Rŏck'-shĕll, n.p. 1145(Conch.) A certain univalve characterized by a long, straight canal which terminates the mouth of the shell. Brande.
  32. Rŏck'-sōap, n.p. 1145(Min.) A mineral having a smooth, greasy feel, and adhering to the tongue. It is composed chiefly of silica, alumina, and water, with sometimes a small proportion of oxide of iron. Dana.
  33. Rŏck'-tār, n.p. 1145Petroleum. See PETROLEUM.
  34. Rōck'-wōōd, n.p. 1145Ligniform asbestos.
  35. Rŏck'-work, n.p. 1145Stones fixed in mortar in imitation of natural masses of rock. 2. (Gardening.) An elevation of earth and other loose materials covered with stones, &c., among which plants adapted for such a…
  36. Rŏck'y, a.p. 1145Full of rocks; as, a rocky mountain; a rocky shore. 2. Formed of rocks. “Rocky pillars.” Milton. 3. Resembling a rock; as, the rocky orb of a shield. Milton. 4. Not easily impressed or affected…
  37. Rō'cou, n.p. 1145A colored pulpy substance within the legume, and surrounding the seeds, of the Bixa Orellana. In its purified state it is called annotto.
  38. Ro-cō'co, a. & n.p. 1145A kind of florid ornamentation, which prevailed, more especially in France, at the close of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries. It consisted chiefly in reviving and…
  39. Rōd, n.p. 1145The shoot or long twig of any woody plant; a branch, or the stem of a shrub; as, a rod of hazel, of birch, of oak, or hickory. 2. A slender stick; a wand; as, (a.) An instrument of punishment or…
  40. Rŏd'dy, a.p. 1145Full of rods; containing many rods or twigs. [Obs.]
  41. Rōde, imp.p. 1145of ride. See RIDE.
  42. Rōde, n.p. 1145A cross. See ROOD.
  43. Rō'dent, a.p. 1145Gnawing;—a term applied to the Rodentia.
  44. Rō'dent, n.p. 1145(Zoöl.) One of the Rodentia; an animal that gnaws, as a rat.
  45. Rō-dĕn′ti-ă, n. pl.p. 1145(Zoöl.) An order of mammals having two large incisor teeth in each jaw, separated from the molar teeth by an empty space. The rat, the squirrel, the marmot, and the beaver, belong to this order.
  46. Rōdge, n.p. 1145(Ornith.) A kind of water-fowl resembling a duck, but not so large. Crabb.
  47. Rōd'o-mēl, n.p. 1145The juice of roses mixed with honey. Simmonds.
  48. Rōd'o-mont, n.p. 1145A vain boaster; a braggart. [Obs.] Herbert.
  49. Rōd'o-mont, a.p. 1145Bragging; vainly boasting.
  50. Rōd'o-mont-āde', n.p. 1145Vain boasting; empty bluster or vaunting; rant. I could show that the rodomontades of Almanzor are neither so irrational nor impossible. Dryden.
  51. Rŏd'ō-mont-āde', v. i.p. 1146To boast; to brag; to bluster; to rant.
  52. Rŏd'ō-mont-ād'ist, n.p. 1146A blustering boaster; one who brags or vaunts.
  53. Rŏd'ō-mont-ā'do, n.p. 1146Rodomontade. [Obs.]
  54. Rŏd'ō-mont-ā'dor, n.p. 1146A rodomontadist. [Obs.]
  55. Rōe, n.p. 1146(Zoöl.) (a.) A roebuck. See ROEBUCK. (b.) The female of any species of deer.
  56. Rōē, n.p. 1146The seed or spawn of fishes. The roe of the male is called soft roe, or milt; that of the female, hard roe, or spawn. 2. A mottled appearance of light and shade in wood, especially in mahogany.
  57. Rōē'bŭck, n.p. 1146A species of deer (Capreolus dorcas: Cervus capreolus of Linnæus), having erect cylindrical branched horns, forked at the summit. This is one of the smallest kind of deer, but of elegant shape and…
  58. Rō'ed, a.p. 1146Filled or impregnated with roe.
  59. Rōe'-stōne, n.p. 1146(Min.) The same as OÖLITE.
  60. Ro-gā'tion, n.p. 1146(Rom. Antiq.) The demand, by the consuls or tribunes, of a law to be passed by the people. 2. Litany; supplication. He perfecteth the rogations or litanies before in use. Hooker. Rogation days…