The blue ribbon, and The red ribbon, are phrases often used to
designate the British orders of the Garter and of the Bath,
respectively, the badges of which are suspended by ribbons of these
colors. See Blue ribbon, under Blue.
Ribbon fish. (Zoöl.) (a) Any elongated, compressed, ribbon-shaped
marine fish of the family Trachypteridæ, especially the species of the
genus Trachypterus, and the oarfish (Regelecus Banksii) of the North
Atlantic, which is sometimes over twenty feet long. (b) The hairtail,
or bladefish. (c) A small compressed marine fish of the genus Cepola,
having a long, slender, tapering tail. The European species (C.
rubescens) is light red throughout. Called also band fish. -- Ribbon
grass (Bot.), a variety of reed canary grass having the leaves stripped
with green and white; -- called also Lady's garters. See Reed grass,
under Reed. -- Ribbon seal (Zoöl.), a North Pacific seal (Histriophoca
fasciata). The adult male is dark brown, conspicuously banded and
striped with yellowish white. -- Ribbon snake (Zoöl.), a common North
American snake (Eutainia saurita). It is conspicuously striped with
bright yellow and dark brown. -- Ribbon Society, a society in Ireland,
founded in the early part of the 19th century in antagonism to the
Orangemen. It afterwards became an organization of tennant farmers
banded together to prevent eviction by landlords. It took its name from
the green ribbon worn by members as a badge. -- Ribborn worm. (Zoöl.)
(a) A tapeworm. (b) A nemertean.
Rib"bon, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ribboned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ribboning.]
To adorn with, or as with, ribbons; to mark with stripes resembling
ribbons.
Rib"bon*ism (?), n. The principles and practices of the Ribbonmen. See
Ribbon Society, under Ribbon.
Rib"bon*man (?), n.; pl. -men. A member of the Ribbon Society. See
Ribbon Society, under Ribbon.
Rib"bon*wood` (?), n. (Bot.) A malvaceous tree (Hoheria populnea) of
New Zealand, the bark of which is used for cordage.
||Ri"bes (?), n.[NL.; cf. Dan. ribs, and Ar. rbs a plant with an acid
||juice.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs including gooseberries and currants
||of many kinds.
Rib"ibe (?), n. [See Rebec.] 1. A sort of stringed instrument; a rebec.
[Obs.] Nares.