Burns's English, though not so racy as his Scotch, is generally
correct.
H. Coleridge.
The rich and racy humor of a natural converser fresh from the plow.
Prof. Wilson.
Syn. -- Spicy; spirited; lively; smart; piquant. -- Racy, Spicy. Racy
refers primarily to that peculiar flavor which certain wines are
supposed to derive from the soil in which the grapes were grown; and
hence we call a style or production racy when it "smacks of the soil,"
or has an uncommon degree of natural freshness and distinctiveness of
thought and language. Spicy, when applied to style, has reference to a
spirit and pungency added by art, seasoning the matter like a
condiment. It does not, like racy, suggest native peculiarity. A spicy
article in a magazine; a spicy retort. Racy in conversation; a racy
remark.
Rich, racy verses, in which we The soil from which they come,
taste, smell, and see.
Cowley.
Rad (rd), obs. imp. & p. p. of Read, Rede. Spenser.
Rad"de (rd"de), obs. imp. of Read, Rede. Chaucer.
Rad"dle (rd"d'l), n. [Cf. G. räder, rädel, sieve, or perhaps E. reed.]
1. A long, flexible stick, rod, or branch, which is interwoven with
others, between upright posts or stakes, in making a kind of hedge or
fence.
2. A hedge or fence made with raddles; -- called also raddle hedge.
Todd.
3. An instrument consisting of a wooden bar, with a row of upright pegs
set in it, used by domestic weavers to keep the warp of a proper width,
and prevent tangling when it is wound upon the beam of the loom.
Rad"dle, v. t. To interweave or twist together.
Raddling or working it up like basket work.
De Foe.
Rad"dle, n. [Cf. Ruddle.] A red pigment used in marking sheep, and in
some mechanical processes; ruddle. "A raddle of rouge." Thackeray.
Rad"dle, v. t. To mark or paint with, or as with, raddle. "Whitened and
raddled old women." Thackeray.