Ri*al", a. Royal. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ri"al (?), n. [From Royal.] A gold coin formerly current in England, of
the value of ten shillings sterling in the reign of Henry VI., and of
fifteen shillings in the reign of Elizabeth. [Spelt also ryal.] Brande
& C.
||Ri`ant" (?), a. [F. riant, p. pr. of rire to laugh, L. ridere.]
||Laughing; laughable; exciting gayety; gay; merry; delightful to the
||view, as a landscape.
In such cases the sublimity must be drawn from the other sources,
with a strict caution, howewer, against anything light and riant.
Burke.
Rib (?), n. [AS. rib, ribb; akin to D. rib, G. rippe, OHG. rippa,
rippi, Dan. ribbe, Icel. rif, Russ. rebro.] 1. (Anat.) One of the
curved bones attached to the vertebral column and supporting the
lateral walls of the thorax.
In man there are twelve ribs on each side, of which the upper seven are
directly connected with the sternum by cartilages, and are called
sternal, or true, ribs. The remaining five pairs are called asternal,
or false, ribs, and of these each of the three upper pairs is attached
to the cartilage of the rib above, while the two lower pairs are free
at the ventral ends, and are called floating ribs. See Thorax.
2. That which resembles a rib in form or use. Specifically: (a)
(Shipbuilding) One of the timbers, or bars of iron or steel, that
branch outward and upward from the keel, to support the skin or
planking, and give shape and strength to the vessel. (b) (Mach. &
Structures) A ridge, fin, or wing, as on a plate, cylinder, beam, etc.,
to strengthen or stiffen it. (c) One of the rods on which the cover of
an umbrella is extended. (d) A prominent line or ridge, as in cloth.
(e) A longitudinal strip of metal uniting the barrels of a
double-barreled gun.
3. (Bot.) The chief nerve, or one of the chief nerves, of a leaf. (b)
Any longitudinal ridge in a plant.
4. (Arch.) (a) In Gothic vaulting, one of the primary members of the
vault. These are strong arches, meeting and crossing one another,
dividing the whole space into triangles, which are then filled by
vaulted construction of lighter material. Hence, an imitation of one of
these in wood, plaster, or the like. (b) A projecting mold, or group of
moldings, forming with others a pattern, as on a ceiling, ornamental
door, or the like.
5. (Mining) (a) Solid coal on the side of a gallery; solid ore in a
vein. (b) An elongated pillar of ore or coal left as a support.
Raymond.
6. A wife; -- in allusion to Eve, as made out of Adam's rib. [Familiar
& Sportive]
How many have we known whose heads have been broken with their own
rib.
Bp. Hall.
Chuck rib, a cut of beef immediately in front of the middle rib. See
Chuck. -- Fore ribs, a cut of beef immediately in front of the sirloin.
-- Middle rib, a cut of beef between the chuck rib and the fore ribs.
-- Rib grass. (Bot.) Same as Ribwort.
Rib, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ribbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ribbing.] 1. To
furnish with ribs; to form with rising lines and channels; as, to rib
cloth.