RAMIFY, RAMIFICATION, &c. See under RAMUS.
RAMILIE, ram'il-[=e], _n._ a name applied to various 18th-cent. articles or fashions of dress, in honour of Marlborough's victory over the French at _Ramillies_ in Belgium in 1706--esp. to a form of cocked hat, and to a wig with a long plaited tail.
RAMISM, r[=a]'mizm, _n._ the system of logic of Peter _Ramus_ (1515-72).
RAM-LINE, ram'-l[=i]n. See under RAMED.
RAMMEL, ram'el, _n._ refuse wood.--_v.i._ to turn to rubbish. [Through Fr.
and Low L. forms from L. _ramus_, a branch.]
RAMMER, ram'[.e]r, _n._ one who, or that which, rams or drives: an instrument used by founders and pavers for ramming, also by gunners.
RAMOLLESCENCE, ram-o-les'ens, _n._ softening, mollifying.--_n._ RAMOLLISSE'MENT, a morbid softening of some organ or tissue of the body.
RAMOON, ra-m[=oo]n', _n._ a West Indian mulberry. [Sp.,--L. _ramus_, a branch.]
RAMOSE, r[=a]'m[=o]s, _adj._ branching, much-branched: (_bot._) branched as a stem or root.--_adv._ R[=A]'MOSELY.--_adj._ R[=A]'MOUS, branched, branchy.
RAMP, ramp, _v.i._ to climb or creep up, as a plant: to leap or bound: to adapt a piece of iron to the woodwork of a gate.--_n._ a leap or bound: a gradual slope or inclined plane between one level and another: a concave bend at the top or cap of a railing, wall, or coping: a romp.--_adj._ RAMP[=A]'CIOUS=_Rampageous_ (q.v.).--_ns._ RAMP[=A]'DGEON, a furious fellow; RAM'P[=A]GE, or RAMP[=A]GE', a state of passion or excitement.--_v.i._ to storm or prance violently.--_adj._ RAMP[=A]'GEOUS, unruly: boisterous: glaring.--_ns._ RAMP[=A]'GEOUSNESS; RAMPALL'IAN (_Shak._), a mean wretch; RAMP'ER, a ruffian who infests race-courses; RAMPS'MAN (_slang_), a highway robber. [Fr. _ramper_, to creep, to clamber; from the Teut.; cf. Low Ger. _rappen_, to snatch, Ger. _raffen_.]
[Illustration]
RAMPANT, ramp'ant, _adj._ overgrowing usual bounds: rank in growth: overleaping restraint: (_her._) standing on the hind-legs.--_n._ RAMP'ANCY, state of being rampant.--_adv._ RAMP'ANTLY.--RAMPANT ARCH, an arch whose abutments are not on the same level.
RAMPART, ram'part, _n._ that which defends from assault or danger: (_fort._) a mound or wall surrounding a fortified place.--_v.t._ to fortify with ramparts, to strengthen. [O. Fr. _rempart_ (orig.
_rempar_)--_remparer_, to defend--_re_, again, _em_, to (=_en_), in, _parer_, to defend--L. _par[=a]re_, to prepare.]
RAMPICK, ram'pik, _n._ any dead tree--also RAM'PIKE.--_adj._ RAM'PICKED.
[Prob. _ran_, as in _roan_-tree, _rantle_-tree, and _pick_ or _pike_.]
RAMPION, ram'pi-on, _n._ a perennial plant with esculent root. [Prob.
through It. and Low L. forms from L. _rapum_, _rapa_, a turnip.]
RAMPIRE, ram'p[=i]r, _n._=_Rampart_.--_adj._ RAM'PIRED.
RAMPLER, ramp'l[.e]r, _n._ (_Scot._) a roving fellow.
RAMROD, ram'rod, _n._ a rod used in ramming down the charge in a gun.--_n._ RAM'ROD-BAY'ONET.--_adj._ RAM'RODDY, stiff like a ramrod.
RAMSHACKLE, ram'shak'l, _adj._ tumble-down: ill-made: out of repair--also RAM'SHACKLED.--_n._ (_Scot._) a careless fellow.--_adj._ RAM'SHACKLY. [Ice.
_ramskakkr_, quite wrong--_ramr_, strong, very, _skakkr_, wry, unequal.]
RAMSHACKLE, ram'shak'l, _v.t._=_Ransack_.
RAMSHORN, ramz'horn, _n._ a semicircular work of low profile in the ditch of a fortified place: an ammonite: a fossil cephalopod.
RAMSKIN, ram'skin, _n._ a cake made of dough mixed with grated cheese.
[Prob. _Ramekin_.]
RAMSONS, ram'zonz, _n.pl._ broad-leaved garlic. [A.S. _hramsan_ (pl.), with pl. _-s_ added.]
RAMSTAM, ram'stam, _adj._ reckless: (_Scot._) forward.--_adv._ headlong.--_n._ a headstrong, giddy person. [_Ram_, intens. pfx., _stam_, a form of _stamp_.]
RAMUS, r[=a]'mus, _n._ a small spray or twig.--_adjs._ R[=A]'MAL, R[=A]'MEAL, pertaining to a branch; R[=A]'M[=E]OUS (_bot._), belonging to, or growing on, a branch.--_n._ RAMIFIC[=A]'TION, division or separation into branches: a branch: a division or subdivision: (_bot._) manner of producing branches.--_adjs._ RAM'IFIED, branched; RAMIFL[=O]'ROUS, flowering on the branches; R[=A]'MIFORM (_bot._), resembling a branch.--_v.t._ RAM'IFY, to make or divide into branches.--_v.i._ to shoot into branches: to be divided or spread out:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ ram'if[=i]ed.--_adj._ RAMIP'AROUS, producing branches.--_ns._ RAM'ULE, RAM'ULUS, a small branch or artery.--_adjs._ RAM[=U]LIF'EROUS, RAM'[=U]LOSE, RAM'[=U]LOUS, having small branches.--_n._ RAMUS'C[=U]LE, a branchlet. [L. _ramus_, a branch.]
RAN, _pa.t._ of _run_.
RANA, r[=a]'na, _n._ the genus of the frogs.--_n._ RAN[=A]'RIUM, a place where frogs are reared. [L., 'a frog.']
RANA, ra'na, _n._ prince or chief in Rajputana. [Hind.]
RANCE, rans, _n._ a prop, as for the support of a congreve-rocket. [O. Fr.
_ranche_--L. _ramex_, _-icis_, a staff--_ramus_, a branch.]
RANCH, ranch, _n._ a stock farm in the west part of the United States.--_v.i._ to manage or work upon a ranch--also RANCHE, RANCH'O.--_ns._ RANCH'ER, RANCHERO (ran-ch[=a]'r[=o]), RANCH'MAN, one employed in ranching; RANCHERIA (ran-ch[=a]-r[=e]'a), a herdsman's hut: a village of herdsmen: a settlement of Indians; RANCH'ING, the business of cattle-breeding. [Sp. _rancho_, prop. 'mess' or 'mess-room;' in Mexico, a herdsman's hut, a grazing-farm.]
RANCH, ransh, _v.t._ (_Dryden_) to tear, wound. [_Wrench_.]
RANCID, ran'sid, _adj._ partially decomposed (used of oil or any greasy substance): sour: disgusting.--_adj._ RANCES'CENT, becoming rancid.--_adv._ RAN'CIDLY.--_ns._ RAN'CIDNESS, RANCID'ITY, the quality of being rancid. [L.
_rancidus_, putrid.]
RANCOUR, rang'kur, _n._ deep-seated enmity: spite: virulence: (_Shak._) sourness.--_adjs._ (_obs._) RANCK=_Rank_; RAN'COROUS, malicious: virulent.--_adv._ RAN'COROUSLY. [Fr.,--L. _rancor_, an old grudge--_rancere_, to be rancid.]
RAND, rand, _n._ a strip of flesh or of leather: one of the slips beneath the heel of the shoe, called the _heel-rand_: a margin, border, edge, of a stream: a territory, as the Rand in the Transvaal.--_ns._ RAND'ING-MACHINE', a machine for fitting rands to heel-blanks; RAND'ING-TOOL, a tool for cutting out rands for shoes. [A.S. _rand_, _rond_, border.]
RAND, rand, _v.i._ an old form of _rant_.
RANDALL-GRASS, ran'dal-gras, _n._ the meadow fescue.
RANDAN, ran'dan, _n._ a noise or uproar: a spree--in phrase, 'On the randan:' the finest part of the bran of wheat: a boat impelled by three oarsmen--also RANDAN GIG. [Prob. from _rand_, a variant of _rant_.]
RANDLE-BAR, ran'dl-bar, _n._ the horizontal bar in an open chimney on which cooking-vessels are hung.--Also RAN'DLE-BALK.
RANDLE-TREE. See RANTLE-TREE.
RANDOM, ran'dum, _adj._ done or uttered at haphazard: left to chance: aimless--(_obs._) RAN'DON.--_n._ something done without aim, chance--now only in phrase, AT RANDOM, haphazard.--_adv._ RAN'DOMLY, without direction: by chance. [O. Fr. _randon_, urgency, haste; from Teut.; Ger. _rand_, a brim.]
RANDY, ran'di, _n._ a virago: (_Scot._) a romping girl: a violent beggar.
[_Rand_, _rant_.]
RANEE. See RANI.
RANG, rang, _pa.t._ of _ring_.
RANGE, r[=a]nj, _v.t._ to rank or set in a row: to place in proper order: to rove or pass over: to sail in a direction parallel to.--_v.i._ to be placed in order: to lie in a particular direction: to have range or direction: to rove at large: to beat about, as for game: to sail or pass near: to be on a level: to extend.--_n._ a row or rank: a class or order: a wandering: room for passing to and fro: space occupied by anything moving: capacity of mind: extent of acquirements: the horizontal distance to which a shot is carried: a space through which a body moves, as the range of a thermometer: the long cooking-stove of a kitchen: a fire-grate.--_adj._ RANGe (_her._), arranged in order, said of small bearings set in a row fessewise.--_n._ RANGE'-FIND'ER, an instrument for determining the range of an object by sight.--_n.pl._ RANGE'-LIGHTS, lights placed in line, usually at or near a lighthouse, so as to direct the course of a ship through a channel: lights on board ship so placed as to give a ready indication of changes of course to other vessels.--_n._ RANG'ER, a rover: a dog that beats the ground: an officer who superintends a forest or park.--_n.pl._ RANG'ERS, a body of mounted troops: a name sometimes taken by clubs of football players, &c.--_ns._ RANG'ERSHIP; RANGE'-STOVE, a portable cooking-range.--_adj._ RAN'GY, disposed to roam: roomy. [Fr. _ranger_, to range--_rang_, a rank.]
RANGIA, ran'ji-a, _n._ a family of bivalves. [From _Rang_, a French conchologist.]