Robbery, in a strict sense, differs from theft, as it is effected by
force or intimidation, whereas theft is committed by stealth, or
privately.
Syn. -- Theft; depredation; spoliation; despoliation; despoilment;
plunder; pillage; rapine; larceny; freebooting; piracy.
Rob"bin (?), n. (Com.) A kind of package in which pepper and other dry
commodities are sometimes exported from the East Indies. The robbin of
rice in Malabar weighs about 84 pounds. Simmonds.
Rob"bin, n. (Naut.) See Ropeband.
Robe (?), n. [F., fr. LL. rauba a gown, dress, garment; originally,
booty, plunder. See Rob, v. t., and cf. Rubbish.] 1. An outer garment;
a dress of a rich, flowing, and elegant style or make; hence, a dress
of state, rank, office, or the like.
Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; Robes and furred
gowns hide all.
Shak.
2. A skin of an animal, especially, a skin of the bison, dressed with
the fur on, and used as a wrap. [U.S.]
Master of the robes, an officer of the English royal household (when
the sovereign is a king) whose duty is supposed to consist in caring
for the royal robes. -- Mistress of the robes, a lady who enjoys the
highest rank of the ladies in the service of the English sovereign
(when a queen), and is supposed to have the care her robes.
Robe (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Robed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Robing.] To
invest with a robe or robes; to dress; to array; as, fields robed with
green.
The sage Chaldeans robed in white appeared.
Pope.
Such was his power over the expression of his countenance, that he
could in an instant shake off the sternness of winter, and robe it
in the brightest smiles of spring.
Wirt.
||Robe`-de-cham"bre (?), n. [F., lit., a chamber gown.] A dressing
||gown, or morning gown.
{ Rob"erds*man (?), Rob"erts*man (?), } n.; pl. -men. (&?;) (Old
Statutes of Eng.) A bold, stout robber, or night thief; -- said to be
so called from Robin Hood.
Rob"ert (?), n. (Bot.) See Herb Robert, under Herb.
Rob"in (?), n. [Properly a pet name for Robert, originally meaning,
famebright; F., fron OHG. Roudperht; ruod (in comp.; akin to AS.
hr&?;&?; glory, fame, Goth. hr&?;peigs victorius) + beraht bright. See
Bright, Hob a clown.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small European singing bird
(Erythacus rubecula), having a reddish breast; -- called also robin
redbreast, robinet, and ruddock. (b) An American singing bird (Merula
migratoria), having the breast chestnut, or dull red. The upper parts
are olive-gray, the head and tail blackish. Called also robin
redbreast, and migratory thrush. (c) Any one of several species of
Australian warblers of the genera Petroica, Melanadrays, and allied
genera; as, the scarlet-breasted robin (Petroica mullticolor). (d) Any
one of several Asiatic birds; as, the Indian robins. See Indian robin,
below.
Beach robin (Zoöl.), the robin snipe, or knot. See Knot. --
Blue-throated robin. (Zoöl.) See Bluethroat. - - Canada robin (Zoöl.),
the cedar bird. -- Golden robin (Zoöl.), the Baltimore oriole. --
Ground robin (Zoöl.), the chewink. -- Indian robin (Zoöl.), any one of
several species of Asiatic saxoline birds of the genera Thamnobia and
Pratincola. They are mostly black, usually with some white on the
wings. -- Magrie robin (Zoöl.), an Asiatic singing bird (Corsycus
saularis), having the back, head, neck, and breast black glossed with
blue, the wings black, and the belly white. -- Ragged robin. (Bot.) See
under Ragged. -- Robin accentor (Zoöl.), a small Asiatic singing bird
(Accentor rubeculoides), somewhat resembling the European robin. --
Robin redbreast. (Zoöl.) (a) The European robin. (b) The American
robin. (c) The American bluebird. -- Robin snipe. (Zoöl.) (a) The
red-breasted snipe, or dowitcher. (b) The red-breasted sandpiper, or
knot. -- Robin's plantain. (Bot.) See under Plantain. -- Sea robin.
(Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of American gurnards of the
genus Prionotus. They are excellent food fishes. Called also wingfish.
The name is also applied to a European gurnard. (b) The red-breasted
merganser, or sheldrake. [Local, U.S.] -- Water robin (Zoöl.), a
redstart (Ruticulla fuliginosa), native of India.
Rob"i*net (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) (a) The chaffinch; -- called also roberd.
(b) The European robin.