Chapter Rhymist to Rich of R by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Ribbon fish

. (Zoöl.) (a) Any elongated, compressed, ribbon-shaped marine fish of the family Trachypteridæ, especially the species of the genus Trachypterus, and the oarfish (Regelecus Banksii) of the North Atlantic, which is sometimes over twenty feet long. (b) The hairtail, or bladefish. (c) A small compressed marine fish of the genus Cepola, having a long, slender, tapering tail. The European species (C. rubescens) is light red throughout. Called also band fish. — Ribbon grass (Bot.), a variety of reed canary grass having the leaves stripped with green and white; — called also Lady's garters. See Reed grass, under Reed. — Ribbon seal (Zoöl.), a North Pacific seal The adult male is dark brown, conspicuously banded and striped with yellowish white. — Ribbon snake (Zoöl.), a common North American snake It is conspicuously striped with bright yellow and dark brown. — Ribbon Society, a society in Ireland, founded in the early part of the 19th century in antagonism to the Orangemen. It afterwards became an organization of tennant farmers banded together to prevent eviction by landlords. It took its name from the green ribbon worn by members as a badge. — Ribborn worm. (Zoöl.) (a) A tapeworm. (b) A nemertean.

Ribbon
(Rib"bon), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ribboned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Ribboning.] To adorn with, or as with, ribbons; to mark with stripes resembling ribbons.

Ribbonism
(Rib"bon*ism) n. The principles and practices of the Ribbonmen. See Ribbon Society, under Ribbon.

Ribbonman
(Rib"bon*man) n.; pl. -men. A member of the Ribbon Society. See Ribbon Society, under Ribbon.

Ribbonwood
(Rib"bon*wood`) n. (Bot.) A malvaceous tree (Hoheria populnea) of New Zealand, the bark of which is used for cordage.

Ribes
(||Ri"bes) n.[NL.; cf. Dan. ribs, and Ar. ribas a plant with an acid juice.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs including gooseberries and currants of many kinds.

Ribibe
(Rib"ibe) n. [See Rebec.]

1. A sort of stringed instrument; a rebec. [Obs.] Nares.

2. An old woman; — in contempt. [Obs.] Chaucer.

3. A bawd; a prostitute. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Ribible
(Rib"i*ble) n. [See Ribibe.] A small threestringed viol; a rebec. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

All can be play on gittern or ribible.

Chaucer.

Ribless
(Rib"less), a. Having no ribs.

Ribroast
(Rib"roast`) v. t. To beat soundly. [Slang]

Ribwort
(Rib"wort`) n. (Bot.) A species of plantain (Plantago lanceolata) with long, narrow, ribbed leaves; — called also rib grass, ripple grass, ribwort plantain.

- ric
(-ric) [AS rice kingdom, dominion. See Rich.] A suffix signifying dominion, jurisdiction; as, bishopric, the district over which a bishop exercises authority.

Rice
(Rice) n. [F. riz (cf. Pr. ris, It. riso), L. oryza, Gr. probably from the Persian; cf. OPers. brizi, akin to Skr. vrihi; or perh. akin to E. rye. Cf. Rye.] (Bot.) A well-known cereal grass (Oryza sativa) and its seed. This plant is extensively cultivated in warm climates, and the grain forms a large portion of the food of the inhabitants. In America it grows chiefly on low, moist land, which can be overflowed.