Roundem, a button.
Row, “the Row,” i.e., Paternoster Row. The notorious Holywell Street is now called by its denizens “Bookseller’s Row.”
Row, a noisy disturbance, tumult, or trouble. Originally Cambridge, now universal. Seventy years ago it was written ROUE, which would almost indicate a French origin, from roué, a profligate or disturber of the peace.—Vide George Parker’s Life’s Painter, 1789, p. 122. This is, however, very unlikely, as the derivation of the French word shows.
Rowdy, money. In America, a ruffian, a brawler, a “rough.” Rowdyism is the state of being of New York roughs and loafers.
Rowdy-dow, low, vulgar “not the [CHEESE],” or thing.
Rub, a quarrel or impediment; “there’s the RUB,” i.e., that is the difficulty.—Shakspeare and L’Estrange.
Rubbed out, dead,—a melancholy expression, of late frequently used in fashionable novels. Rubbed out is synonymous with [WIPED OUT], which see.
Rubber, a term at whist, &c., the best of three games.
Ruck, the undistinguished crowd; “to come in with the RUCK,” to arrive at the winning-post among the thick of the unplaced horses.—Racing term.
Ruction, an Irish row. A faction fight.