Needle-bug (Ranatra fus- 
r),two thirds natural size. 
Ranatra 
Ranatra (ran'a-trii), M. [NL.] 1. A Fabri- 
cian (1794) geiiiisof hemipterous insects of the 
family Nepidie. In these 
curious water-btitfs the body is 
extremely long ami cylimlrir, 
the short acute rostrum Is di- 
rected forward, there is a long 
anal respiratory tube, and the 
fore legs are raptorial. The 
species are aquatic and carniv- 
orous. They are found ill fresh- 
water ponds, and feed on flsh- 
eggs, fry, and other water-bugs. 
R. linearii of Europe is an ex- 
ample ; R. fmca is common in 
North America, where it is 
called needle-bug. 
2. [(. c.] A bug of this 
genus ; a needle-bug. 
ranee 1 (rang), . [< OF. 
ranehe, a stick, wooden 
pin, F. rancltc, a round 
(of a ladder), rack, prop, 
or brace; cf. OF. ratirliivr, 
rancher, F. rancher, arack, 
ladder, a crosspiece of 
wood placed in front of or behind a cart ; < 
L. r/imcj- (ramie-), a staff, < ramus, a branch, 
bough, twig, club: see ramm.] 1. A shore or 
prop acting as a strut for the support of some- 
tiling, as of a Congreve rocket. 2. One of the 
cross-bars between the legs of a chair. 
ranee 1 (rans), v. t. ; pret. and pp. ranted, ppr. 
ranting. [< OF. rancer, prop, < ranee, a prop: 
see ranee 1 .] To shore or prop. [Scotch.] 
Rance 2 t (rans), a. An obsolete form of Rhenish. 
Ane great pels of Ranee wyne. 
Aberdeen Reg., 16th cent. (Jamteson.) 
rance 3 t, rauncet, ' [Early mod. E. ranee, 
rauuee (?), a kind of fine stone; < F. ranee, 
ranee marbre, defined by Larousse as a white 
and red-brown marble veined with ashen-white 
and blue; prob. lit. 'Rhenish' Ranee*), be- 
longing to the Rhine, as it were a sort of ' Rhine- 
stone.'] An unknown hard mineral or fine 
gtone, supposed to be some sort of marble. 
What liuing Ranee, what raptlng Ivory, 
Swims in these streams? 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Trophies. 
She 's empty ; hark ! she sounds ; there 's nothing in 't ; 
The spark-engendering flint 
Shall sooner melt, and hardest munce shall first 
Dissolve and quench thy thirst. 
(friaries, Emblems, u. 10. 
rancescent (ran-ses'ent), a. [< LL. ranees- 
cen(t-)s, ppr. of rancescere, inceptive of L.(ML.) 
rancere, stink: see rancid and rancor.'] Becom- 
ing rancid or sour. Imp. Diet. 
ranch 1 (ranch), v. t. [Also rauncli ; prob. a 
var. form of "rench for wrench.] To wrench; 
tear; wound. [Obsolete or prov. Eng.] 
Hasting to raunch the arrow out. 
Spenser, Shep. Cal., August. 
Against a stump his tusk the monster grinds, . . . 
And ranched his hips with one continued wound. 
Dryden, tr. of Ovid's Stetamorph., i. 
ranch 1 (ranch), n. [< ranch 1 , .] A deep scratch 
or wound. [Obsolete or prov. Eng.] 
Qri/ade IF.], a ranehe or clinch with a beast's claw. 
Cotgrave. 
ranch 2 (ranch), n. [AlsororccTie; < Sp. raneho: 
see raneho.] 1. In the western part of the 
United States, especially in the parts former- 
ly Mexican, on the great plains, etc., a herd- 
ing establishment and estate; a stock-farm; 
by extension, in the same regions, any farm or 
farming establishment. The tract of land over which 
the animals of a ranch or of several ranches roam for pas- 
turage is called a range. See range, ^ (a). 
2. In a restricted sense, a company of ranch- 
ers or rancheros ; the body of persons employed 
011 a ranch. 
The Spanish raucho means a mess, and so the American 
4953 
rancheria(ran-che-re'a), n. [Mex. Sp.,<rc/i, 
:i raiic'h: see rawc/i 2 .] "In Mexico, the dwelling- 
place of arancheroorof rancheros; a herdsman s 
hut, or a village of herders ; hence, a settle- 
ment, more or less permanent, of btdfauu. 
Prior to the occupation of California by the Europeans 
the Indians dwelt, more or less, in temporary villages, later 
called rancherias, where they had an imperfect govern- 
ment controlled by chiefs, councils, and priests. 
Johns Hi>iMiu< Univ. Studies, 8th ser., IV. 36. 
By evening all the Indians had betaken themselves to 
their own rancherias, and the agency was comparatively 
deserted for another week. The Century, XXXVIII. 898. 
ranchero (ran-cha'ro), n. [< Mex. Sp. ranchero, 
steward of a raneho or mess, ranchman, hrnls- 
man, also owner of a raneho or small farm, < 
nnirlio, a ranch: see raneho.] In Mexico, a 
herdsman; a person employed on a raucho; 
herder speaks of his companions collectively as the ranch 
or the "outfit" L. Swinburne, Scribner's Mag., II. 509. 
ranch 2 (r.anch), v. i. [< ranch?, n.] To con- 
duct or work upon a ranch; engage in herding. 
[Western U. S.] 
Ranchiiuj is an occupation like those of vigorous, primi- 
tive pastoral peoples, having little in common with the 
humdrum, workaday business world of the nineteenth cen- 
tury. T. Roosevelt, The Century, XXXV. 600. 
Patients who have exchanged the invalid's room at 
home for cattle ranching in Colorado. 
Lancet, No. 3481, p. 1079. 
rancher (ran'cher), n. [< ranchV + -er l . Cf. 
raurliero.] A person engaged in ranching ; one 
who carries on or works upon a ranch ; a raiich- 
ui.-i n. [Western U. S.] 
To misdirect persons was a common enough trick among 
,.,,/. II' Sl,,'i>hrnl, Prairie Experiences, p. 117. 
specifically, one who has the oversight of a 
raneho, or the care of providing for its people ; 
by extension, same as ranchman. 
A fancy scrape hanging on a hook, with a ranchero's bit 
and lariat. J. W. Palmer, The New and the Old, p. 85. 
ranch-house (raneh'hous), . The principal 
dwelling-house on a ranch ; the abode of a ranch- 
man. [Western U. 8.] 
Meanwhile the primitive ranch-home, outbuildings, and 
corrals are built. T. Roosevelt, The Century, XXXV. 499. 
ranching (ran'ching), n. [Native name.] A 
slender dagger used in the Malay Islands. 
ranchman (ranch ' man), n. ; pi. ranchmen 
(-men). A man who is employed on a ranch ; 
one of the herdsmen of a ranch; specifically, 
one who owns or who has the charge or control 
of a ranch ; a rancher. 
At the main ranch there will be a cluster of log build- 
ings including a separate cabin for the foreman or ranch- 
,nan. T. Roosevelt, The Century, XXXV. 499. 
raneho (ran'cho), n. [< Sp. raneho, a mess, 
small farm, clan, hamlet, a clear passage, = Pg. 
raneho, mess on a ship, soldiers' quarters ; cf. 
ranchar, divide seamen into messes, Sp. arran- 
charse, dwell together; origin doubtful.] In 
Spanish America, a rude hut or cluster of huts 
where herdsmen or stockmen live or only lodge ; 
hence, an establishment for breeding cattle and 
horses; a stock-farm. It is thus distinguished 
from a hacienda, which is a cultivated farm or 
plantation. See ranclft, n. 
rancid (ran'sid), a. [= OF. rancide, F. ranci, 
ranee (> MD. ranst, ranstigh, D. rans, ransig = 
G. ranzig) = Pr. ranc Sp. raneio = Pg. It. ran- 
cido, < L. rancidus, stinking, rank, rancid, of- 
fensive, < rancere (ML.), stink, in L. used only 
in ppr. rancen(t-)s, stinking; cf. rancor, from 
the same verb. The adj. rerofc 1 is not related.] 
1. Rankly offensive to the senses; having a 
tainted smell or taste; fetid or soured from 
chemical change. 
The oil with which fishes abound often tunis rancid, and 
Randallite 
rancidity (ran-sid'i-ti), n. [=F. ranciditf (cf. 
Sp. nnicidi::, It. nmoideeea), < L. as if *ran- 
i-iiliin(t-)n, < rtnicidus, rancid: see rancid.] 
The quality of being rancid; a rankly sour or 
tainted smell and taste, as of old oil. 
rancidly (ran'sid-li), adv. With a rancid odor; 
mustily. 
rancidness (ran'sid-nes), . The quality of 
being rancid ; rancidity. 
ranckt, and r. An obsolete spelling of ran* 1 . 
rancor, rancour (rang'kor), . [Formerly 
also rankor; < ME. rancor, rancour, rankowre, 
< OF. rancor, ram-iicr, rancoriir, dial, rancour, 
disgust, rancor, hatred, = Pr. rancor = OSp. 
rancor, Sp. rencor = Pg. rancor = It. ranmre, 
< LL. rancor, a stinking smell or flavor, rancid- 
ness, also bitterness, grudge, < L. (ML.) ran- 
cere, stink, be rancid : see rancid. Cf. the var. 
form OF. "rancure, rancune, F. rancune = OPg. 
rancura = It. rancura, < ML. rancitra, rancmia, 
rancor.] If. Sourness; bitterness. 
For Banquo's issue . . . Duncan have I murder'd ; 
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace 
Only for them. Shak., Macbeth, in. 1. 7. 
2. Rankling malice or spitefulness; bitter ani- 
mosity ; in general, a soured or cankered dispo- 
sition, inciting to vindictive action or speech; 
a nourished hatred or grudge. 
In her corage no rancour dooth abide. 
Bailees Boot (E. E. T. S.), p. 33. 
.Some whom emulation did enrage 
To spit the venom of their rancour's gall. 
Ford, Fame's Memorial. 
The rancor of an evill tongue. 
Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus. 
= Syn. 2 Asperity, Harshness, etc. (see acrimony'), Ill- 
mil, Enmity, etc. (see animosity), gall, spleen, spite, spite- 
fulness, rankling, hate, hatred, malevolence, bad blood. 
rancorous, rancourous (rang'kor-us), a. [< 
OF. rancuros, rancorus, rancurus = Sp. rencoro- 
so. < ML. rancorosus, rancorous, full of hate or 
spite, <L. rancor, rancor: see rancor.'] Full of 
rancor; implacably spiteful or malicious; in- 
tensely virulent. 
lies heavy on the stomach, and affects the very sweat with 
a rancid smell. Arbuthnat, Aliments, p. 79. 
2. Repulsive to the moral sense; disgusting; 
loathsome. [Rare.] 
Can you in words make show of amity, 
And in your shields display such rancorous minds? 
Marlowe, Edward II., il. 2. 
He [Warren Hastings] was beset by rancorous and un- 
principled enemies. Macaulay, Warren Hastings. 
=Syn. See rancor. 
rancorously, rancourously (rang'kor-us-h), 
adv. In a rancorous manner; with spiteful mal- 
ice or vindictiveness. 
rand 1 (rand), 11. [< ME. rand, border, margin, 
edge, strip, slice, < AS. rand, rond, border, edge, 
brink, margin, shore, the rim or boss of a shield, 
a shield, buckler, = D. rand = MLG. rant, edge, 
border, etc., = OHG. rant, MHG. rant, border, 
rim or boss of a shield, a shield, G. rand, bor- 
der, brim, rim, edge, etc., = Icel. rond, a stripe, 
a shield, = Sw. Dan. rand, a stripe, = Goth. 
*randa (prob. found in the derived Sp. randa, 
lace or edging on garments) ; cf . Lith. rumbas, 
OBulg. reby, border, edge, rind, seam; akin to 
rtroi, q. v. Hence ult., through OF., E. ran- 
dom.] It. A margin, border, or edge, as the 
bank of a stream. 2f. A strip or slice of flesh 
cut from the margin of a part or from between 
two parts. 
A great bolle-full of benen were betere in his wombe, 
And with the randes of bakun his haly for to flllen, 
Than pertriches or plouers or pekokes y-rosted. 
Piers Plowman's Crede (E. E. T. S.), 1. 763. 
Qiste de boeuf [F.], a rand of beef ; a long and fleshie piece 
cut out from between the flank and buttock. Colgrave. 
They came with chopping knives 
To cut me into rands, and sirloins, and so powder me. 
Fletcher, Wildgoose Chase, v. 2. 
3. A hank of line or twine; a strip of leather. 
Halliwell. [Local, Eng.] 4. Rushes on the 
borders and edges of land near a river. Halli- 
well. [Prov. Eng.] 5. In shoemaking : (at) 
The edge of the upper-leather; a seam of a 
shoe. Bailey. (6t) A thin inner shoe-sole, as of 
cork. Simmonds. (c) One of the slips beneath 
the heel of a sole to bring the rounding surface 
to a level ready to receive the lifts of the heel : 
distinctively called heel-rand. See cut under 
boot. 
rand 2 t (rand), v. i. [Avar, of rant.] To storm; 
rant. 
One of the most rancid and obnoxious pieces that have 
ever disgraced the stage. 
New York Tribune, May 10, 1890. 
raneidify (ran-sid'i-fi), v. i. and t. ; pret. and pp. 
raiicidtfleil, ppr. rancidifi/ing. [< rancid + --///.] 
To become or make rancid. [Rare.] 
The oxidation or rancidifuing of the cacao butter. 
Therapeutic Gazette, XI. 314. 
He was born to fill thy mouth, ... he will teach thee 
to tear and rand. B. Jonsou, Poetaster, in. 1. 
randall-grass (ran'dal-gras), w. The meadow- 
fescue. See f'cxtuca" [Virginia.] 
Randallite (ran'dal-it), w. [After Benjamin 
llandall (1749-1808), founder of the body of 
Freewill Baptists at New Durham, New Hamp- 
shire, in 1780.] A Freewill Baptist. [Rare.] 
