Part 339

Rich"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) An herb (Pilea pumila) of the Nettle family, having a smooth, juicy, pellucid stem; -- called also clearweed.

Ric`in*e`la*id"ic (?), a. [Ricinoleic + elaidic.] Pertaining to, or designating, an isomeric modification of ricinoleic acid obtained as a white crystalline solid.

Ric`in*e*la"i*din (?), n. (Chem.) The glycerin salt of ricinelaidic acid, obtained as a white crystalline waxy substance by treating castor oil with nitrous acid.

Ri*cin"ic (?), a. [L. ricinus castor-oil plant.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, castor oil; formerly, designating an acid now called ricinoleic acid.

Ric"i*nine (?), n. [L. ricinus castor-oil plant.] (Chem.) A bitter white crystalline alkaloid extracted from the seeds of the castor-oil plant.

Ric`in*o"le*ate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of ricinoleic acid; -- formerly called palmate.

Ric`in*o"le*ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a fatty acid analogous to oleic acid, obtained from castor oil as an oily substance, C&?;H&?;O&?; with a harsh taste. Formerly written ricinolic.

Ric`in*o"le*in (?), n. [L. ricinus castor-oil plant + oleum oil.] (Chem.) The glycerin salt of ricinoleic acid, occuring as a characteristic constituent of castor oil; -- formerly called palmin.

Ric`i*nol"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Ricinoleic.

||Ric"i*nus (&?;), n. [L., the castor- oil plant.] (Bot.) A genus of ||plants of the Spurge family, containing but one species (R. ||communis), the castor-oil plant. The fruit is three-celled, and ||contains three large seeds from which castor oil iss expressed. See ||Palma Christi.

Rick (?), n. [OE. reek, rek, AS. hreác a heap; akin to hryce rick, Icel. hraukr.] A stack or pile, as of grain, straw, or hay, in the open air, usually protected from wet with thatching.

Golden clusters of beehive ricks, rising at intervals beyond the hedgerows.

G. Eliot.

Rick, v. t. To heap up in ricks, as hay, etc.

Rick"er (?), n. A stout pole for use in making a rick, or for a spar to a boat.

Rick"et*ish (?), a. Rickety. [Obs.] Fuller.

Rick"ets (?), n. pl. [Of uncertain origin; but cf. AS. wrigian to bend, D. wrikken to shake, E. wriggle.] (Med.) A disease which affects children, and which is characterized by a bulky head, crooked spine and limbs, depressed ribs, enlarged and spongy articular epiphyses, tumid abdomen, and short stature, together with clear and often premature mental faculties. The essential cause of the disease appears to be the nondeposition of earthy salts in the osteoid tissues. Children afflicted with this malady stand and walk unsteadily. Called also rachitis.

Rick"et*y (?), a. 1. Affected with rickets.

2. Feeble in the joints; imperfect; weak; shaky.

Rick"rack` (?), n. A kind of openwork edging made of serpentine braid.

Rick"stand` (?), n. A flooring or framework on which a rick is made.

Ric`o*chet" (?), n. [F.] A rebound or skipping, as of a ball along the ground when a gun is fired at a low angle of elevation, or of a fiat stone thrown along the surface of water.

Ricochet firing (Mil.), the firing of guns or howitzers, usually with small charges, at an elevation of only a few degrees, so as to cause the balls or shells to bound or skip along the ground.

Ric`o*chet" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ricochetted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ricochetting.] To operate upon by ricochet firing. See Ricochet, n. [R.]

Ric`o*chet", v. i. To skip with a rebound or rebounds, as a flat stone on the surface of water, or a cannon ball on the ground. See Ricochet, n.

Ric"tal (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the rictus; as, rictal bristles.

Ric"ture (?), n. [L. ringi, rictus, to open wide the mouth, to gape.] A gaping. [Obs.]

||Ric"tus (?), n. [L., the aperture of the mouth.] The gape of the ||mouth, as of birds; -- often resricted to the corners of the mouth.