Rostelliform
(Ros*tel"li*form) a. Having the form of a rostellum, or small beak.
Rostellum
(||Ros*tel"lum) n.; pl. Rostella [L. See Rostel.] A small beaklike process or extension
of some part; a small rostrum; as, the rostellum of the stigma of violets, or of the operculum of many
mosses; the rostellum on the head of a tapeworm.
Roster
(Ros"ter) n. [Perhaps a corruption of register; or cf. roll.] (Mil.) A register or roll showing the
order in which officers, enlisted men, companies, or regiments are called on to serve.
Rostra
(Ros"tra) n. pl. See Rostrum, 2.
Rostral
(Ros"tral) a. [L. rostralis, fr. rostrum a beak; cf. F. rostral.] Of or pertaining to the beak or
snout of an animal, or the beak of a ship; resembling a rostrum, esp., the rostra at Rome, or their decorations.
[Monuments] adorned with rostral crowns and naval ornaments.
Addison. Rostrate
(Ros"trate Ros"tra*ted) , a. [L. rostratus, fr. rostrum a beak. See Rostrum.]
1. Having a process resembling the beak of a bird; beaked; rostellate.
2. Furnished or adorned with beaks; as, rostrated galleys.
Rostrifera
(||Ros*trif"e*ra) n. pl. [NL., fr. L. rostrum beak + ferre to bear.] (Zoöl.) A division of pectinibranchiate
gastropods, having the head prolonged into a snout which is not retractile.
Rostriform
(Ros"tri*form) a. [L. rostrum a beak + -form: cf. F. rostrifarme.] Having the form of a beak.
Rostrulum
(||Ros"tru*lum) n.; pl. Rostrula [NL., dim. of L. rostrum a beak.] A little rostrum, or beak,
as of an insect.
Rostrum
(Ros"trum) n.; pl. L. Rostra E. Rostrums [L., beak, ship's beak, fr. rodere, rosum, to gnaw.
See Rodent.]
1. The beak or head of a ship.
2. pl. (Rostra) (Rom. Antiq.) The Beaks; the stage or platform in the forum where orations, pleadings,
funeral harangues, etc., were delivered; — so called because after the Latin war, it was adorned with the
beaks of captured vessels; later, applied also to other platforms erected in Rome for the use of public
orators.
3. Hence, a stage for public speaking; the pulpit or platform occupied by an orator or public speaker.
Myself will mount the rostrum in his favor.
Addison. 4. (Zoöl.) (a) Any beaklike prolongation, esp. of the head of an animal, as the beak of birds. (b) The
beak, or sucking mouth parts, of Hemiptera. (c) The snout of a gastropod mollusk. See Illust. of Littorina.
(d) The anterior, often spinelike, prolongation of the carapace of a crustacean, as in the lobster and the
prawn.
5. (Bot.) Same as Rostellum.
6. (Old Chem.) The pipe to convey the distilling liquor into its receiver in the common alembic. Quincy.
7. (Surg.) A pair of forceps of various kinds, having a beaklike form. [Obs.] Coxe.
Rosulate
(Ro"su*late) a. [NL. rosulatus, fr. L. rosa a rose.] (Bot.) Arranged in little roselike clusters; —
said of leaves and bracts.
