Congreve rocket, a powerful form of rocket for use in war, invented by
Sir William Congreve. It may be used either in the field or for
bombardment; in the former case, it is armed with shells or case shot;
in the latter, with a combustible material inclosed in a metallic case,
which is inextinguishable when kindled, and scatters its fire on every
side.
Rock"et, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Rocketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Rocketing.]
(Sporting) To rise straight up; said of birds; usually in the present
participle or as an adjective. [Eng.]
An old cock pheasant came rocketing over me.
H. R. Haggard.
Rock"et*er (?), n. (Sporting) A bird, especially a pheasant, which,
being flushed, rises straight in the air like a rocket. [Eng.]
Rock"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several California scorpænoid
food fishes of the genus Sebastichthys, as the red rockfish (S. ruber).
They are among the most important of California market fishes. Called
also rock cod, and garrupa. (b) The striped bass. See Bass. (c) Any one
of several species of Florida and Bermuda groupers of the genus
Epinephelus. (d) An American fresh- water darter; the log perch.
The term is locally applied to various other fishes.
Rock"i*ness (?), n. [From Rocky.] The state or quality of being rocky.
Rock"ing, a. Having a swaying, rolling, or back-and-forth movement;
used for rocking.
Rocking shaft. (Mach.) See Rock shaft.
Rock"ing-chair` (?), n. A chair mounted on rockers, in which one may
rock.
Rock"ing-horse` (?), n. The figure of a horse, mounted upon rockers,
for children to ride.
Rock"ing-stone` (?), n. A stone, often of great size and weight,
resting upon another stone, and so exactly poised that it can be
rocked, or slightly moved, with but little force.
Rock"less, a. Being without rocks. Dryden.
Rock"ling (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any species of small marine fishes of the
genera Onos and Rhinonemus (formerly Motella), allied to the cod. They
have three or four barbels.
Rock"rose` (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to any species of the genus
Helianthemum, low shrubs or herbs with yellow flowers, especially the
European H. vulgare and the American frostweed, H. Canadense.
Cretan rockrose, a related shrub (Cistus Creticus), one of the plants
yielding the fragrant gum called ladanum.
Rock" shaft` (?). [Cf. Rock, v. i.] (Mach.) A shaft that oscillates on
its journals, instead of revolving, -- usually carrying levers by means
of which it receives and communicates reciprocating motion, as in the
valve gear of some steam engines; -- called also rocker, rocking shaft,
and way shaft.
Rock" staff` (?). [Cf. Rock, v. i.] An oscillating bar in a machine, as
the lever of the bellows of a forge.
Rock"suck`er (?), n. (Zoöl.) A lamprey.
Rock"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) Any coarse seaweed growing on sea-washed
rocks, especially Fucus.
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Rock"wood` (?), n. (Min.) Ligniform asbestus; also, fossil wood.
Rock"work` (?), n. 1. (Arch.) Stonework in which the surface is left
broken and rough.