Riant, rī′ant, adj. laughing: gay.—n. Rī′ancy. [Fr.,—L. ridens, pr.p. of ridēre, to laugh.]
Riata. See Reata.
Rib, rib, n. one of the bones from the backbone which encircle the chest: anything like a rib in form or use: a piece of meat containing one or more ribs: a piece of timber which helps to form or strengthen the side of a ship: a vein of a leaf, or an insect's wing: a prominence running in a line: a ridge: (archit.) a moulding or projecting band on a ceiling: one of the rods on which the cover of an umbrella is extended: (coll.) a wife (from Gen. ii., 21-23).—v.t. to furnish or enclose with ribs: to form with rising lines—as corduroy: to enclose:—pr.p. rib′bing; pa.t. and pa.p. ribbed.—ns. Rib′-band, a piece of timber bolted longitudinally to the ribs of a vessel to hold them in position; Rib′bing, an arrangement of ribs; Rib′-grass, the ribwort plantain.—adj. Rib′less, having no ribs.—n. Rib′let, a rudimentary rib.—adjs. Rib′-like, like a rib: resembling a rib; Rib′-nosed, having the snout ribbed, as a baboon.—v.t. Rib′-roast, to beat soundly.—ns. Rib′-roast′er (coll.), a severe blow on the ribs; Rib′-roast′ing, a severe beating; Rib′-vault′ing. [A.S. ribb; Ger. rippe.]
Rib, rib, n. hound's tongue: water-cress. [A.S. ribbe.]
Ribald, rib′ald, n. a loose, low character.—adj. low, base, mean: licentious: foul-mouthed—also Rib′aud (Spens.).—adjs. Rib′aldish, Rib′aldrous, ribald.—n. Rib′aldry, obscenity: filthiness: low and vulgar scurrility—also Rib′audry (obs.). [O. Fr. ribald, ribaut (Fr. ribaud, It. ribaldo)—Old High Ger. hrīpā, Mid. High Ger. ribe, a whore.]
Riband, rib′and, n. Same as Ribbon.
Ribattuta, rē-bat-tōō′ta, n. (mus.) a melodic embellishment. [It.]
Ribaudequin, ri-baw′de-kin, n. a movable cheval-de-frise. [O. Fr.; of doubtful origin.]
Ribble-rabble, rib′l-rab′l, n. a mob: indecent language.—n. Ribb′le-row, a list of rabble.
Ribbon, rib′on, n. a fillet or strip of silk: a narrow strip: (pl.) reins for driving: a shred: a watch-spring: an endless saw: (her.) a bearing considered usually as one of the subordinaries: (naut.) a painted moulding on the side of a ship—also Rib′and, Ribb′and.—adj. made of ribbon: having bands of different colours.—v.t. to adorn with ribbons: to stripe: to streak.—ns. Ribb′on-brake, a brake having a band which nearly surrounds the wheel whose motion is to be checked; Ribb′on-fish, a long, slender, compressed fish, like a ribbon; Ribb′on-grass, a variety of striped canary-grass: Lady's Garter; Ribb′onism, a system of secret associations among the lower classes in Ireland, at its greatest height from about 1835 to 1855—from the green badge worn; Ribb′onman, a member of a Ribbon society; Ribb′on-map, a map printed on a long strip which winds on an axis within a case; Ribb′on-seal, a North Pacific seal, banded and striped; Ribb′on-snake, a harmless striped snake abundant in the United States; Ribb′on-stamp, a simple form of printing-press for transferring colours to paper; Ribb′on-wave, a common geometrid moth; Ribb′on-weed, a seaweed whose frond has a long, flat blade; Ribb′on-wire, a strong tape with wire threads for strengthening garments; Ribb′on-worm, tapeworm.—Blue Ribbon, the ribbon of the Order of the Garter: anything which marks the attainment of some ambition, also the object itself: the badge adopted by a teetotal society; Red Ribbon, the ribbon of the Order of the Bath. [O. Fr. riban (Fr. ruban), perh. Celt.; cf. Ir. ribin, Gael. ribean. Diez suggests Dut. ring-band, necktie, collar.]