Chapter R to Raceme of R by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

R to Raceme

R
(R) R, the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is sometimes called a semivowel, and a liquid. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 178, 179, and 250-254. "R is the dog's letter and hurreth in the sound." B. Jonson.

In words derived from the Greek language the letter h is generally written after r to represent the aspirated sound of the Greek "r, but does not affect the pronunciation of the English word, as rhapsody, rhetoric.

The English letter derives its form from the Greek through the Latin, the Greek letter being derived from the Phœnician, which, it is believed, is ultimately of Egyptian origin. Etymologically, R is most closely related to l, s, and n; as in bandore, mandole; purple, L. purpura; E. chapter, F. chapitre, L. capitulum; E. was, were; hare, G. hase; E. order, F. ordre, L. ordo, ordinis; E. coffer, coffin.

The three Rs, a jocose expression for reading, (w)riting, and (a)rithmetic, — the fundamentals of an education.

Ra
(Ra) n. A roe; a deer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ra-
(Ra-). A prefix, from the Latin re and ad combined, coming to us through the French and Italian. See Re-, and Ad-.

Raash
(Raash) n. [Cf. Ar. ra'ash trembling, tremor.] (Zoöl.) The electric catfish. [Written also raasch.]

Rab
(Rab) n. A rod or stick used by masons in mixing hair with mortar.

Rabat
(Rab"at) n. [See Rabot.] A polishing material made of potter's clay that has failed in baking.

Rabate
(Ra*bate") v. t. [F. rabattre to beat down; pref. re- + abattre. See Abate, and cf. Rebate, v.] (Falconry) To recover to the fist, as a hawk. [Obs.]

Rabatine
(Rab"a*tine) n. [See Rabato.] A collar or cape. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.

Rabato
(Ra*ba"to) n. [F. rabat, fr. rabattre. See Rabate.] A kind of ruff for the neck; a turned-down collar; a rebato. [Obs.] Shak.

Rabbate
(Rab*bate") v. t. [See Rabate.] To abate or diminish. [Obs.] — n. Abatement. [Obs.]

Rabbet
(Rab"bet) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rabbeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Rabbeting.] [F. raboter to plane, plane down,rabot a plane; pref. re- re- + OF. abouter, aboter. See Abut, and cf. Rebut.]

1. To cut a rabbet in; to furnish with a rabbet.

2. To unite the edges of, as boards, etc., in a rabbet joint.

Rabbet
(Rab"bet), n. [See Rabbet, v., and cf. Rebate, n.]

1. (Carp.) A longitudinal channel, groove, or recess cut out of the edge or face of any body; especially, one intended to receive another member, so as to break or cover the joint, or more easily to hold the members in place; thus, the groove cut for a panel, for a pane of glass, or for a door, is a rabbet, or rebate.

2. Same as Rabbet joint, below.

Rabbet joint (Carp.), a joint formed by fitting together rabbeted boards or timbers; — called also rabbet. — Rabbet plane, a joiner's plane for cutting a rabbet. Moxon.