The “Widow Racket” was one of Mrs. Pope’s best parts. Her usual manner of expressing piquant carelessness consisted in tossing her head from right to left, and striking the palm of one hand with the back of the other [1740-1797].—James Smith.
Rackrent (Sir Condy), in Miss Edgeworth’s novel of Castle Rackrent (1802).
Raddle (Mrs.), keeper of the lodgings occupied by Bob Sawyer. The young medical practitioner invited Mr. Pickwick and his three friends to a convivial meeting; but the termagant Mrs. Raddle brought the meeting to an untimely end.—C. Dickens, The Pickwick Papers (1836).
Rad´egonde (St.) or St. Radegund, queen of France (born 519, died 587). She was the daughter of Bertaire, king of Thuringia, and brought up a pagan. King Clotaire I. taught her the Christian religion, and married her in 538; but six years later she entered a nunnery, and lived in the greatest austerity.
There thou must walk in greatest gravity,
And seem as saintlike as St. Radegund.
Spenser, Mother Hubbard’s Tale (1591).
Radigund or Radegone, the proud queen of the Amăzons. Being rejected by Bellodant “the Bold,” she revenged herself by degrading all the men who fell into her power by dressing them like women, giving them woman’s work to do, such as spinning, carding, sewing, etc., and feeding them on bread and water to effeminate them (canto 4). When she overthrew Sir Artegal in single combat, she imposed on him the condition of dressing in “woman’s weeds,” with a white apron, and to spend his time in spinning flax, instead of in deeds of arms. Radigund fell in love with the captive knight, and sent Clarinda as a go-between; but Clarinda tried to win him for herself, and told the queen he was inexorable (canto 5). At length Britomart arrived, cut off Radigund’s head, and liberated the captive (canto 7).—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 4-7 (1596).
Rag and Famish (The), the Army and Navy Club; so christened by Punch. The rag refers to the flag, and the famish to the bad cuisine.
Ragged Regiment (The), the wan figures in Westminster Abbey, in a gallery over Islip’s Chapel.
Railway King (The), George Hudson, of Yorkshire, chairman of the North Midland Company. In one day he cleared by speculation £100,000. It was the Rev. Sydney Smith who gave Hudson the title of “Railway king” (1800-1871).
Raine (Old Roger), the tapster, near the abode of Sir Geoffrey Peveril.