Richardsonia, rich-ärd-sō′ni-a, n. a genus of gamopetalous plants, belonging to the madder family, native to the warmer parts of America. [Named from the 17th-cent. Eng. botanist, Richard Richardson.]
Richel-bird, rich′el-bėrd, n. (prov.) the least tern.
Riches, rich′ez, n.pl. (in B. sometimes n.sing.) wealth: richness: abundance: an intellectual treasure, as the riches of wisdom: the pearl, flower, or cream of anything. [M. E. richesse (n.sing.)—O. Fr. richesse—Mid. High Ger. ríche.]
Riciniæ, rī-sin′i-ē, n. a division of mites or acarines. [L. ricinus, a tick.]
Ricinium, rī-sin′i-um, n. a mantle, chiefly worn by women, among the ancient Romans.
Ricinus, ris′i-nus, n. a genus of apetalous plants, whose one species is Ricinus communis, the castor-oil plant.—adj. Ricinol′ic, pertaining to, or obtained from, castor-oil. [L. ricinus, the castor-oil plant.]
Rick, rik, n. a pile or heap, as of hay.—n.pl. Rick′ers, the stems of young trees cut up for spars, &c.—ns. Rick′le (Scot.), a pile of stones loosely thrown together: a small rick of grain; Rick′-rack, a kind of open-work edging made of serpentine braid; Rick′-stand, a flooring on which a rick is made; Hay′-rick′er, a horse-rake for cocking up hay. [A.S. hreác; Ice. hraukr.]
Rickets, rik′ets, n.sing. a disease of children, characterised by softness and curvature of the bones.—adv. Rick′etily, shakily.—n. Rick′etiness, unsteadiness.—adjs. Rick′etly, shaky; Rick′ety, affected with rickets: feeble, unstable. [From M. E. wrikken, to twist, allied to A.S. wringan, to twist. The medical term rachitis was coined about 1650, with a punning allusion to Gr. rhachis, the spine.]
Ricochet, rik-ō-shā′, or -shet′, n. a rebound along the ground, as of a ball fired at a low elevation.—v.i. to skip along the ground:—pr.p. ricochet′ting; pa.t. and pa.p. ricochet′ted. [Fr.; ety. unknown.]
Ricolite, rē′kō-līt, n. a stratified ornamental stone. [Rico in New Mexico, Gr. lithos, a stone.]