RIVER-LAKES. Large pools of water occupying a portion of the valleys or hollows through which the courses of rivers lie.
RIVER-RISK. A policy of insurance from the docks to the sea, at any port.
RIVET. The roe of a fish. Also, a hinge-pin, or any piece of riveted work. The soft iron pin by which the ends of a cask hoop, or the plates of a boiler, &c., are secured by clinching.
RIVIERA. An Italian term for a coast, as the Riviera di Genoa.
RIX-DOLLAR. A silver coin common in northern Europe, of the average value of 4s. 6d.
ROACH. The hollow curvature of the lower parts of upper square-sails, to clear the stays when the yards are braced up.
ROAD, or Roadstead. An off-shore well-known anchorage, where ships may await orders, as St. Helen's at Portsmouth, Cowes, Leith, Basque Roads, Saugor, and others, where a well-found vessel may ride out a gale.
ROADSTER, or Roader. Applied chiefly to those vessels which work by tides, and seek some known road to await turn of tide or change of wind. If a vessel under sail strike against any roader and damage her, the former is obliged by law to make good the damages.
ROAST-BEEF DRESS. Full uniform; probably from its resemblance to that of the royal beef-eaters.
ROAST BEEF OF OLD ENGLAND. A popular air, by which officers are summoned to the dinner-table.