randan 
randan (ran'dan), n. [Cf. rand 2 ; perhaps in 
part duo to rtntdon, random: see random. In 
the 3d and 4th senses uncertain ; perhaps with 
ref . to quick movement ; but in def . 3 possibly 
a corrupt form, connected witli range, <., 6.] 1 . 
A noise or uproar. Halliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 
2. A spree : used only in the phrase on tli/ : ran- 
dan (also on the randy), on a spree. [Prov. 
Eng.] 3. The finest part of the bran of wheat ; 
the product of the second sifting of meal. 
[Prov. Eng.] 4. A boat impelled by three 
rowers, the one amidships using a pair of sculls, 
and the bowman and strokesman one oar each. 
Also called randan-gig. [Eng.] 
randan-gig (ran'dan-gig),w. Same as randan, 4. 
A sort of boat, ... a randan-gig built for us by Searle 
of Putney, where . . . we used to keep her. 
Yates, Fifty Years of London Life. 
randanite (ran'dan-it), w. [< Randan, Puy de 
Dome, Auvergne, France, where it is found, + 
-jfe 2 .] The name given in France to infusorial 
silica, or kieselguhr, found under the soil in 
peat-bogs in the department of Puy de Dome, 
at Randan and in other localities in the neigh- 
borhood of Clermont. 
Randia (ran'di-a), n. [NL. (A. A. Houston, 
1737, in Linneeus's "Genera Plantarum"), 
named after Isaac Rand, a London botanist of 
the 18th century.] A genus of gamopetalous 
plants of the order Rubiucese and tribe Garde- 
niese. It is characterized by hermaphrodite and axillary 
flowers, united style-branches bearing a club-shaped or fu- 
siform stigma, a two-celled ovary with many ovules, seeds 
with membranaceous coats, and short intrapetiolar stip- 
ules which are almost connate. There are about 100 spe- 
cies, natives of tropical regions, especially in Asia and Afri- 
ca. They are trees and shrubs, erect or climbing, with or 
without thorns, and bearing opposite leaves which are obo- 
vate or narrower, and either small or large flowers, which 
are solitary or in clusters, and white or yellow, rarely red. 
The fruit is a many-seeded, two-celled roundish berry, 
yielding a blue dye in the West Indian species, as R. acu- 
leata, known as indigo-berry and inkberry. These species 
also furnish a valuable wood, used for cask-staves, ladders, 
etc. Ji. dumetontm, a small thorny tree, widely distributed 
from Africa to Java, is used as a hedge-plant in India, 
while its fruit, called emetic nut, is there a current drug, 
said also, like Cocculus Indicus, to have the property of 
stupefying fish. 
randie, . and w. See randy. 
randing-machine (ran'ding-ma-shen'"), n. In 
shoe-manvf., a machine for fitting rands to 
heel-blanks for shoes, after the rands have 
been formed from rand-strips in a rand-forming 
machine. 
randing-tool (ran'ding-tol), n. In slioc-manuf., 
a hand-tool for cutting out strips of leather for 
rands. 
randle-balk (ran'dl-bak), n. Same as randlc- 
bar. 
randle-bar (ran'dl-biir), n. The horizontal bar 
built into the walls of an open chimney, from 
which to hang hooks for supporting cooking- 
vessels. See back-bar. 
randle-tree, . See rantle-tree. 
random (ran'dum), w.l [An altered form (as- 
similated to whilom, seldom, ransom, the latter 
also with orig. n) of the early mod. E. randon, 
< ME. randon, randun, randoun, force, impetu- 
osity, < OF. randon, force, impetuosity, im- 
petuous course, as of a torrent (grands randans 
de pluie, great torrents of rain); esp. in the 
phrases a randon, a grand randon, with force 
or fury, very fast, with great force (eoiirir du 
grant randon, run with great fury); cf. It. dim. 
raiidello, a randello, at random ; a randa, near, 
with difficulty, exactly; cf. Sp. de rendon, de 
rondon, rashly, intrepidly, abruptly (nearly like 
E. at random); perhaps < OHG. MHG. rant, 
G. rand, edge, brim, rim, margin: see rand 1 .} 
If. A rushing, as of a torrent; an impetuous 
course; impetuosity; violence; force: espe- 
cially with great, as in the phrase a great ran- 
dom, with great speed or force. 
And thei rennen to gidre a gret randoun. 
Mandevtfle, Travels, p. 238. 
The two kynges were rierce and hardy, and mette with 
so grete raundon with speres that were grete and shorte 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 628. 
But of hym thought he to faill in no wise, 
With gret raundon cam to hym in his gise. 
Rom. of Partenay (E. E. T. S.), 1. 5866. 
Coragiously the two kynges newely fought with great 
randtm and force. Hall, Hen. VIII., an. 12. 
2+. A rush; spurt; gush. 
Whan thei saugh come the dragon that Merlin bar, 
that caste oute of his throte so grete raundon of flere in to 
the aire, that was full of duste and powder, so that it 
semed all reade . . . Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 219. 
3f. A continuous flow of words ; a harangue. 
Random, or longe renge of wurdys, or other thyngys. 
haringga, etc. Prompt, fan:, p. 4-2:i. 
4954 
4. An indeterminate course or proceeding; 
hence, lack of direction, rule, or method ; hap- 
hazard; chance: tised only in the phrase at 
random that is, in a haphazard, aimless, and 
purely fortuitous manner. 
You flee with winges of often change at random where you 
please. TurbervUle, The Lover to a Gentlewoman. 
Sitli late mischaunce had her compeld to chaunge 
The land for sea, at randon there to raunge. 
Spenser, F. Q., III. viii. 20. 
Come not too neere me, I at random strike. 
For gods and men I now hate both alike. 
Heywood, Dialogues (Works, ed. Pearson, 1874, VI. 178). 
Like orient pearls at random strung. 
Sir n: Jones, Song of Haflz. 
5. The distance traversed by a missile ; range ; 
reach. 
The angle which the missive is to mount by, if we will 
have it go to its furthest random, must be the half of a 
right one. Sir K. Digby. 
random (ran'dum), a. and w.2 [By ellipsis from 
at random.] I. a. Proceeding, taken, done, or 
existing at random; aimless; fortuitous; hap- 
hazard; casual. 
In common things that round us lie 
Some random truths he can impart. 
W ordsuiorth, A Poet's Epitaph. 
I would shoot, howe'er in vain, 
A random arrow from the brain. 
Tennyson, Two Voices. 
You feel that the whole of him (Dryden] was better than 
any random specimen, though of his best, seems to prove. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 8. 
Random choice, the selection of objects, subject to the 
condition that they shall belong to a given class or col- 
lection, but not voluntarily subject to any other condition. 
The assumption is that objects so selected will in the 
long run occur as objects of the same kind occur in gen- 
eral experience. This assumption is natural, it leads to 
no difficulty, and no serious doubt has ever been thrown 
upon it. It is the fundamental postulate of the theory of 
probability. See probability. Random courses, in ma- 
sonry and paving, courses of stones hi horizontal beds, 
the stones being of unequal thickness, but exactly fitted 
together. Random line, (a) In local probability, an in- 
finite straight line supposed to be chosen in such a man- 
ner that the infinitesimal probability of its cutting any 
limited straight line is proportional to the length of the 
latter. (6) In United States public land-surveying, a trial 
line on which temporary mile and half-mile stakes are set, 
for the purpose of getting the data for rerunning the same 
line and setting permanent stakes at the corners. Ran- 
dom point, in local probability, a point supposed to be so 
chosen that the infinitesimal probability of its lying within 
any closed surface is proportional to the solid contents of 
that surf ace. Random-range ashler, random-tooled 
ashler. See ashler, 3. Random shot, a shot not inten- 
tionally directed to any point ; also, a shot with the muzzle 
of the gun elevated above the horizontal line. Ran- 
dom stonework, in masonry, a construction formed of 
squared stones varying in thickness and not laid in courses. 
See cut under ashler. Random tooling, the act of bring- 
ing the face of a stone to a nearly smooth surface by hew- 
ing it over with a broad-pointed chisel, which produces a 
series of minute waves at right angles to its path. It is 
called droving in Scotland. Random work, random 
stonework. Random yarn, in dyeing, yarn dipped into 
a bath of water with a layer of color at the top, so as to 
produce a clouded effect ; clouded yarn. 
On the large scale the random yarns are coloured in ma- 
chines. W. Crookes, Dyeing and Calico-Printing, p. 102. 
II. n. Something done or produced without 
definite method, or with irregular or haphazard 
effect, (a) In masonry, one of a number of dressed 
stones of irregular or unmatched sizes. See random 
stonework, under I. 
SO tons squares, 250 tons dressed randoms, and 1000 tons 
2 in. ringsmall. Engineer, LXVII. 117. 
(6) In dyeing, clouded yarn. See random yarn, under I. 
randomly (ran'dum-li), ode. [< random + -Jy 2 .~\ 
In a random manner; at random, or without 
aim, purpose, or guidance. 
An infusorium swims randomly about. 
H. Spencer, Data of Ethics, 4. 
randont, . An obsolete form of random. 
randont (ran'don), v. i. [< OF. randonner, run 
swiftly, < randon, a swift course: see random.'] 
To stray in a wild manner or at random. 
Shall leave them free to randon of then- will. 
Norton and Sackrille, Ferrex and Porrex, L 2. 
randy (ran'di), a. and n. [Also randie, ranty; 
< rand?, rant, + -yl. Cf. randan.'] I. a. Dis- 
orderly ; boisterous ; obstreperous ; riotous ; 
also, noisily wanton. [Scotch and North. Eng.] 
A merry core 
0' randie, gangrel bodies. 
Burns, Jolly Beggars. 
II. .; pi. randies (-diz). 1. A sturdy beggar 
or vagrant ; one who exacts alms by threaten- 
ings and abusive language. Also called randy- 
beggar. [Scotch.] 2. A romping girl ; a noisy 
hoyden ; a scold ; a violent and vulgar quarrel- 
some woman. Jamieson. [Scotch and North. 
Eng.] 
That scandalous randy of a girl. 
Carlyle, in Kroude (Life in London, xviii.). 
range 
3. A spree : as, to be on the randy. UaUhn-ll. 
[Prov. Eng.] 
ranedeert, '< An obsolete form of reindeer. 
ranee, it. See rani. 
Ranelagli mobt, Ranelagh capt. A cap worn 
by women in the eighteenth century, apparent- 
ly a form of the mob-cap: the name is taken 
from Ranelagh, a place of fashionable resort 
near Dublin. 
ranforcet, '' t. Same as reinforce. Sidli-ij. 
rang 1 (rang). Preterit of rinij". 
rang' 2 t, and c. An old form of rani:-. 
range (rang), . ; pret. and pp. ranged, ppr. 
ranying. [Early mod. E. also raunge; < ME. 
rengen, < OF. rcngcr, F. ranger (= Pr. rengar), 
range, rank, order, array, < rang, a rank, row : 
see rank?. Cf. arrange, derange.] I. trans. 1. 
To make a row or rows of; place in a line or 
lines ; hence, to fix or set in any definite order ; 
dispose with regularity ; array; arrange. 
Than two of hem renged hem, and priked after the mes- 
sagers as faste as the horse myght hem here. 
Merlin (E. E. T. S.), i. 127. 
They had raunged their ships broad in a front ranke. 
Holland, tr. of Livy, p. 957. 
For all the Etruscan armies 
Were ranged beneath his eye. 
Macaulay, Horatius. 
2. To rank or class; place or reckon as being 
of or belonging to some class, category, party, 
etc.; fix the relative place or standing of; clas- 
sify; collocate. 
The late Emperour Augustus all the world ravngeth in 
this ranke of men fortunate. Holland, tr. of Pliny, vii. 45. 
So they ranged all their youth under some family, and set 
upon such a course, which had good success, for it made 
all hands very industrious. 
N. Morton, New England's Memorial, p. 93. 
The great majority of the Indians, if they took part in 
the war, ranged themselves on the side of the Crown. 
Lecky, Eng. in 18th Cent, xiv. 
Among those inhabitants of the Roman dominion who 
were personally free, there were four classes, ranged in an 
ascending scale provincials, Italians, Latins, Romans. 
E. A. Freeman, Amer. Lects., p. 320. 
3t. To rank or reckon ; consider; count. 
The .Ktliiups were as fair 
As other dames ; now black with black despair : 
And in respect of their complexions changed, 
Are eachwhere since for luckless creatures ranged. 
B. Jonson, Masque of Blackness. 
4f. To engage ; occupy. 
That, of all other, was the most fatal and dangerous ex- 
ploit that ever I was ranged in. 
B. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, iii. 1. 
5. To pass over or through the line, course, or 
extent of ; go along or about , especially for some 
definite purpose ; rove over or along : as, to 
range the forest for game or for poachers ; to 
range a river or the coast in a boat. 
I found this credit, 
That he did range the town to seek me out. 
Sltak., T. N., iv. 3. 7. 
As they ranged the coast at a place they named Whitson 
Bay, they were kindly vsed by the Natiues. 
Quoted in Capt. John Smith's Works, I. 108. 
To range the woods, to roam the park. 
Tennyson, In llemoriam, Conclusion. 
6. To sift; pass through a range or bolting- 
sieve. [Obsolete or local.] 
They made a decree, and tooke order that no come 
maisters that bought anil sold grain should beat this mule 
away from their raunging sives. 
Holland, tr. of Pliny, viiL 44. 
H. intrans. 1. To constitute or be parallel 
to a line or row ; have linear course or direction ; 
be in or form a line : as, a boundary ranging 
east and west ; houses ranging evenly with the 
street. 
Than thei rode forth and renged close that wey where 
as the childeren foughten full sore, ffor the Saianes were 
mo than vij'i in a flote. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 198. 
Direct my course so right as with thy hand to show 
Which way thy forests range. 
Drayton, Polyolbion, i 14. 
The stones are of the same thickness as the walls, and 
the pilasters have no capitals ; there is a cornish below that 
ranges round, which might belong to a basement 
Pococke, Description of the East, II. i. 135. 
2. To be on a level; agree in class or position ; 
have equal rank or place ; rank correspond- 
ingly. 
'Tis better to be lowly horn, 
And range with humble livers in content, 
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief, 
And wear a golden sorrow. 
Shale., Hen. VIIL, ii. 3. 20. 
This was cast upon the board, 
When all the full-faced presence of the Gods 
Hanged in the halls of Peleus. Tennyson, (Enone. 
3. To go in a line or course; hence, to rove 
freely; pass from point to point; make a course 
or tour ; roam ; wander. 
