Part 380

Rob"bin (?), n. (Com.) A kind of package in which pepper and other dry commodities are sometimes exported from the East Indies. The robbin of rice in Malabar weighs about 84 pounds. Simmonds.

Rob"bin, n. (Naut.) See Ropeband.

Robe (?), n. [F., fr. LL. rauba a gown, dress, garment; originally, booty, plunder. See Rob, v. t., and cf. Rubbish.] 1. An outer garment; a dress of a rich, flowing, and elegant style or make; hence, a dress of state, rank, office, or the like.

Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; Robes and furred gowns hide all.

Shak.

2. A skin of an animal, especially, a skin of the bison, dressed with the fur on, and used as a wrap. [U.S.]

Master of the robes, an officer of the English royal household (when the sovereign is a king) whose duty is supposed to consist in caring for the royal robes. -- Mistress of the robes, a lady who enjoys the highest rank of the ladies in the service of the English sovereign (when a queen), and is supposed to have the care her robes.

Robe (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Robed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Robing.] To invest with a robe or robes; to dress; to array; as, fields robed with green.

The sage Chaldeans robed in white appeared.

Pope.

Such was his power over the expression of his countenance, that he could in an instant shake off the sternness of winter, and robe it in the brightest smiles of spring.

Wirt.

||Robe`-de-cham"bre (?), n. [F., lit., a chamber gown.] A dressing ||gown, or morning gown.

{ Rob"erds*man (?), Rob"erts*man (?), } n.; pl. -men. (&?;) (Old Statutes of Eng.) A bold, stout robber, or night thief; -- said to be so called from Robin Hood.

Rob"ert (?), n. (Bot.) See Herb Robert, under Herb.

Rob"in (?), n. [Properly a pet name for Robert, originally meaning, famebright; F., fron OHG. Roudperht; ruod (in comp.; akin to AS. hr&?;&?; glory, fame, Goth. hr&?;peigs victorius) + beraht bright. See Bright, Hob a clown.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small European singing bird (Erythacus rubecula), having a reddish breast; -- called also robin redbreast, robinet, and ruddock. (b) An American singing bird (Merula migratoria), having the breast chestnut, or dull red. The upper parts are olive-gray, the head and tail blackish. Called also robin redbreast, and migratory thrush. (c) Any one of several species of Australian warblers of the genera Petroica, Melanadrays, and allied genera; as, the scarlet-breasted robin (Petroica mullticolor). (d) Any one of several Asiatic birds; as, the Indian robins. See Indian robin, below.

Beach robin (Zoöl.), the robin snipe, or knot. See Knot. -- Blue-throated robin. (Zoöl.) See Bluethroat. - - Canada robin (Zoöl.), the cedar bird. -- Golden robin (Zoöl.), the Baltimore oriole. -- Ground robin (Zoöl.), the chewink. -- Indian robin (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Asiatic saxoline birds of the genera Thamnobia and Pratincola. They are mostly black, usually with some white on the wings. -- Magrie robin (Zoöl.), an Asiatic singing bird (Corsycus saularis), having the back, head, neck, and breast black glossed with blue, the wings black, and the belly white. -- Ragged robin. (Bot.) See under Ragged. -- Robin accentor (Zoöl.), a small Asiatic singing bird (Accentor rubeculoides), somewhat resembling the European robin. -- Robin redbreast. (Zoöl.) (a) The European robin. (b) The American robin. (c) The American bluebird. -- Robin snipe. (Zoöl.) (a) The red-breasted snipe, or dowitcher. (b) The red-breasted sandpiper, or knot. -- Robin's plantain. (Bot.) See under Plantain. -- Sea robin. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of American gurnards of the genus Prionotus. They are excellent food fishes. Called also wingfish. The name is also applied to a European gurnard. (b) The red-breasted merganser, or sheldrake. [Local, U.S.] -- Water robin (Zoöl.), a redstart (Ruticulla fuliginosa), native of India.

Rob"i*net (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) (a) The chaffinch; -- called also roberd. (b) The European robin.

2. A military engine formerly used for throwing darts and stones.

Rob"ing (?), n. The act of putting on a robe.

Robing room, a room where official robes are put on, as by judges, etc.

Rob"in Good"fel`low (?). A celebrated fairy; Puck. See Puck. Shak.

||Ro*bin"i*a (?), n. [NL. So called after Jean Robin, a French ||herbalist.] (Bot.) A genus of leguminous trees including the common ||locust of North America (Robinia Pseudocacia).

Rob"o*rant (?), a. [L. roborans, p. pr. See Roborate.] Strengthening. -- n. (Med.) A strengthening medicine; a tonic.

Rob"o*rate (?), v. t. [L. roboratus, p. pr. of roborare to strengthen, fr. robur, roboris, strength.] To give strength or support to; to confirm. [Obs.] Fuller.

Rob`o*ra"tion (?), n. [LL. roboratio.] The act of strengthening. [Obs.] Coles.

{ Ro*bo"re*an (?), Ro*bo"re*ous (?), } a. [L. roboreus.] Made of oak. [Obs.]

Ro*bust" (?), a. [L. robustus oaken, hard, strong, fr. robur strength, a very hard kind of oak; cf. Skr. rabhas violence: cf. F. robuste.] 1. Evincing strength; indicating vigorous health; strong; sinewy; muscular; vigorous; sound; as, a robust body; robust youth; robust health.