the eighteenth letter in our alphabet, belonging to the class of liquids—the 'dog's letter' (littera canina), from the trilling or vibration of the tip of the tongue: as a medieval numeral=80; R=80,000.—The three R's, a humorous term for reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Ra, rä, n. the supreme sun-god of the Memphite system of ancient Egyptian mythology.
Rabanna, ra-ban′a, n. matting made from the fibre of the raffia, in Madagascar. [Malagasy.]
Rabat, ra-bä′, n. a neck-band with flaps worn by French ecclesiastics: a turned-down collar or ruff—(obs.) Rab′atine, Rabā′to. [Fr.]
Rabate, ra-bāt′, v.t. to beat down.—n. abatement. [Fr. rabattre, to beat down—re-, again, abattre—L. ad, to, batuĕre, to beat.]
Rabbet, rab′et, n. a groove cut in the edge of a plank so that another may fit into it.—v.t. to groove a plank thus.—ns. Rabb′eting-machine′, -plane, -saw, for ploughing and cutting grooves; Rabb′et-joint, a joint formed by fitting together timber with rabbets. [O. Fr. raboter, to plane—rabouter—re-, again, aboter, abouter, to thrust against.]
Rabbi, rab′i, or rab′ī, Rabbin, rab′in, n. Jewish title of a doctor or expounder of the law:—pl. Rabbis (rab′īz), Rabb′ins.—ns. Rabb′an ('our master'), a title of greater honour than rabbi; Rabb′inate, the dignity of a rabbi.—adjs. Rabbin′ic, -al, pertaining to the rabbis or to their opinions, learning, and language.—n. Rabbin′ic, the later Hebrew.—adv. Rabbin′ically.—ns. Rabb′inism, the doctrine or teaching of the rabbis: a rabbinical peculiarity of expression: the late Jewish belief which esteemed the oral law equally with the written law of God; Rabb′inist, Rabb′inite, one who adheres to the Talmud and traditions of the rabbis; Rabbō′ni, my great master. [Gr.,—Heb. rabbí—rab, great, master—rābab, to be great. Cf. Ar. rabb, master, the Lord.]
Rabbit, rab′it, n. a small rodent burrowing animal of the hare family: a cony: any member of the hare family.—v.i. to hunt rabbits.—ns. Rabb′it-brush, a North American composite plant; Rabb′it-ear, a long slender oyster; Rabb′iter, one who hunts rabbits; Rabb′it-fish, the 'king of the herrings;' Rabb′it-hutch, a box for the rearing of rabbits; Rabb′it-moth, a moth in United States of a furry appearance; Rabb′it-mouth, harelip; Rabb′it-root, the wild sarsaparilla; Rabb′itry, a rabbit-warren; Rabb′it-squirr′el, a chincha, a South American rodent; Rabb′it-suck′er (Shak.), a sucking rabbit; Rabb′it-warr′en, a place where rabbits are kept and bred.—Snow-shoe rabbit, an American hare found in the Rocky Mountains which turns white in winter; Welsh rabbit, melted cheese with a little ale poured over a slice of hot toast—sometimes written 'Welsh rarebit' by wiseacres. [M. E. rabet, dim. of a form seen in Old Dut. robbe.]
Rabbit, rab′it, v.t. an interjectional expression, like confound. [Perh. a corr. of rabate.]