Part 384

Rock"ing-stone` (?), n. A stone, often of great size and weight, resting upon another stone, and so exactly poised that it can be rocked, or slightly moved, with but little force.

Rock"less, a. Being without rocks. Dryden.

Rock"ling (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of small marine fishes of the genera Onos and Rhinonemus (formerly Motella), allied to the cod. They have three or four barbels.

Rock"rose` (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to any species of the genus Helianthemum, low shrubs or herbs with yellow flowers, especially the European H. vulgare and the American frostweed, H. Canadense.

Cretan rockrose, a related shrub (Cistus Creticus), one of the plants yielding the fragrant gum called ladanum.

Rock" shaft` (?). [Cf. Rock, v. i.] (Mach.) A shaft that oscillates on its journals, instead of revolving, -- usually carrying levers by means of which it receives and communicates reciprocating motion, as in the valve gear of some steam engines; -- called also rocker, rocking shaft, and way shaft.

Rock" staff` (?). [Cf. Rock, v. i.] An oscillating bar in a machine, as the lever of the bellows of a forge.

Rock"suck`er (?), n. (Zoöl.) A lamprey.

Rock"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Any coarse seaweed growing on sea-washed rocks, especially Fucus.

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Rock"wood` (?), n. (Min.) Ligniform asbestus; also, fossil wood.

Rock"work` (?), n. 1. (Arch.) Stonework in which the surface is left broken and rough.

2. (Gardening) A rockery.

Rock"y (?), a. 1. Full of, or abounding in, rocks; consisting of rocks; as, a rocky mountain; a rocky shore.

2. Like a rock; as, the rocky orb of a shield. Milton.

3. Fig.: Not easily impressed or affected; hard; unfeeling; obdurate; as, a rocky bosom. Shak.

Rocky Mountain locust (Zoöl.), the Western locust, or grasshopper. See Grasshopper. - - Rocky Mountain sheep. (Zoöl.) See Bighorn.

Ro"coa (?), n. [Cf. F. rocou, roicou, Pg. & Braz, urucú.] The orange- colored pulp covering the seeds of the tropical plant Bixa Orellana, from which annotto is prepared. See Annoto.

Ro*co"co (?), n. [F.; of uncertain etymology.] A florid style of ornamentation which prevailed in Europe in the latter part of the eighteenth century.

Ro*co"co, a. Of or pertaining to the style called rococo; like rococo; florid; fantastic.

Rod (?), n. [The same word as rood. See Rood.] 1. A straight and slender stick; a wand; hence, any slender bar, as of wood or metal (applied to various purposes). Specifically: (a) An instrument of punishment or correction; figuratively, chastisement.

He that spareth his rod hateth his son.

Prov. xiii. 24.

(b) A kind of sceptor, or badge of office; hence, figuratively, power; authority; tyranny; oppression. "The rod, and bird of peace." Shak. (c) A support for a fishing line; a fish pole. Gay. (d) (Mach. & Structure) A member used in tension, as for sustaining a suspended weight, or in tension and compression, as for transmitting reciprocating motion, etc.; a connecting bar. (e) An instrument for measuring.

2. A measure of length containing sixteen and a half feet; -- called also perch, and pole.

Black rod. See in the Vocabulary. -- Rods and cones (Anat.), the elongated cells or elements of the sensory layer of the retina, some of which are cylindrical, others somewhat conical.

Rod"dy (?), a. Full of rods or twigs.

Rod"dy, a. Ruddy. [Obs.] Chaucer.