rhabdoid 
rhabdoid (rab'doid), H. [Also rabdoid; < Gr. 
papfoetdfc, like a rod, < pa36of, a rod, + eldof, 
form.] In bot., a spindle-shaped or acicular 
body, chemically related to the plastids, which 
occurs in certain cells of plants exhibiting ir- 
ritability, such as Drosera, Dionsea, etc., and 
which probably plays an important part in this 
function. The position in the cell is such that it 
stretches diagonally across the cell from end 
to end. 
rhabdoidal (rab-doi'dal), . [Also rabiluidal ; 
< rhabdoid + -at.] Rod-like ; specifically, in 
anat., sagittal: as, the rhabdoidal suture. 
rhabdolith (rab'do-lith), n. [< Gr. pd/Moc, a 
rod, + AiSof, a stone.] A minute rhabdoidal 
concretion of calcareous matter occurring in 
globigerina-ooze one of the elements which 
cover a rhabdosphere. 
The clubs of the rhabdoiiths get worn out of shape, and 
are last seen, under a high power, as minute cylinders 
scattered over the field. 
Sir C. W. Thornton, Voyage of Challenger, I. iii. 
rhabdolithic (rab-do-lith'ik), n. [< rhabdolith 
+ -ic] Concreted in rhabdoidal form, as cal- 
careous matter; of or pertaining to rhabdoliths. 
rhabdology (rab-dol'o-ji), . [Also rabdology; 
< F. rltubdologie, < Gr. pdfidof, a rod, + -/loyio, < 
'Atyetv, speak: see -ology.] TJie act or art of 
computing by Napier's rods or Napier's bones. 
See rod. 
rhabdom (rab'dom), . [< LGr. pdftoufia, a 
bundle of rods: MOrMMMM.] In en torn., a spe- 
cial structure iu the eye, consisting of a con- 
crescence of the rods developed on the cells 
of the retina, when these cells are themselves 
united in a retinula. 
The rods also become united, and form a special struc- 
ture, the rhabdom, in the long axis of a group of combined 
retinal cells. Oeyenbaur, Comp. Anat. (trans.), p. 264. 
rhabdomal (rab'do-mal), . [< rhtibdome + -a?.] 
Having the character'of a rhabdome ; pertain- 
ing to a rhabdome. 
rhabdomancer (rab'do-mau-ser). n. [Also rab- 
domancer; < rhabdomancy + -er 1 .] One who 
professes or practises rhabdomancy ; a romancer 
of the divining-rod; a bletonist; a douser. 
rhabdomancy (rab'do-man-si), H. [Also rab- 
domancy; < F. rliabdomancie, rhabdomance = Pg. 
rhabdomancia = It. rabdomanzia, < Gr. pn,i<io- 
IMvreia, divination by means of a rod, < pri/Mof, 
a rod, + fiavreia, divination.] Divination by a 
rod or wand; specifically, the attempt to dis- 
cover things concealed in the earth, as ores, 
metals, or springs of water, by a divining-rod ; 
bletouism; dousing. 
Agreeably to the doctrines of rhabdomancy, formerly in 
vogue, and at the present moment not entirely discarded, 
a twig, usually of witchhazel, borne over the surface of 
the ground, indicates the presence of water, to which it is 
instinctively alive, by stirring in the hand. 
S. Judd, Margaret, I. 9. 
rhabdomantic (rab-do-man'tik), a. [Also rab- 
domantic; < rhabdomancy (-maiit-) + -ic.] Per- 
taining to rhabdomancy, or the use of the di- 
vining-rod. 
rhabdome (rab ' dom), n. [< LGr. pd/3<5o/m, a 
bundle of rods, < Gr. pd/3<5of, a rod. Of. rhab- 
dom.] In sponges, the shaft of a cladose rhab- 
dus, bearing the cladome. 
The rhabdus then [i. e., when cladose] becomes known 
as the shaft or rhabdoine, and the secondary rays are the 
arms or cladi, collectively the head or cladome of the 
spicule. W. J. Sollai, Encyc. Brit, XXII. 417. 
rhabdomere (rab'do-mer), . [< Gr. pd,3<5oc, a 
rod, + fiipof, a part.] One of the chitinous rods 
which, when united, form a rhabdom. Amer. 
Naturalist, XXIV. 373. 
Rhabdqmesodon (rab-do-mes'o-don), . [NL., 
< Gr. pafiSof, a rod, + utaot, middle, + booiif 
(o(SoKT-) = E. tooth.'] A genus of polyzoans, 
typical of the family Rhabdomesodontidse. S. 
aracile is a characteristic species. 
Rhabdomesodontidae(rab-do-mes-o-don'ti-de), 
n. pi. [NL., < Rhabdomesodon (-odont-) + -idee.] 
A family of polyzoans, typified by the genus 
Rhabdomesodon. They had a ramose polyzoary com- 
posed of slender cylindrical solid or tubular branches with 
the cell-apertures on all sides. The cell-mouth was be- 
low the surface, and opened into a vestibule or outer cham- 
ber which constituted the apparent cell-aperture on the 
surface. The species lived in the Carboniferous seas. 
rhabdomyoma (rab"do-mi-6'ma), .; pi. rhab- 
domyomata (-ma-ta). [NL., < Grl pa/36o(, a rod, 
+ NL. myoma, q. v.] A myoma consisting of 
striated muscular fibers. 
Rhabdonema (rab-do-ne'ma), H. [NL., < Gr. 
pdfjSof, a rod, + vij^g., a thread.] A genus of 
small nematoid worms referred to the family 
Anguillulidse, containing parasitic species, some 
5146 
of which are known to pass through the Rhab- 
itttix form. Such is R. niyroveiiofum, a viviparous par- 
asite of the lungs of h:itnu-hi;ins, half to three quarters of 
an inch long, whose embryos make their way into the in- 
testine and thence to the exterior, being passed with the 
feces into water or mud, where they acquire the RhaMita 
form. These have separate sexes, and the femtiles pro- 
duce living young, which finally migrate into the batra- 
chian host. Another species, which occurs in the intestine 
of various animals, including man, is Jt. strong 'iilvides, for- 
merly known as A ngvtihda intestinalis. 
rhabdophane (rab'do-fan), . [< Gr. pdftdof, 
a rod, + -tfrnviK, appearing, < <t>a(vea6ai, appear.] 
A rare phosphate of the yttrium and cerium 
earths from Cornwall in England, and also from 
Salisbury in Connecticut, where the variety 
called scovillite is found. 
Rhabdophora (rab-dof'o-rii), n.pl. [NL., neut. 
pi. of "rhabdophorun: see rhabdophorous.] A 
group of fossil organisms: same as Graptoli- 
tliina : so called by Allman from the chitmous 
rod which supports the perisarc. 
rhabdophoran (rab-dof'o-ran), ti. and n. [< 
Bhabdophora + -an.] I. a. Of or pertaining 
to the Rhabdophora ; graptolithic. 
II. H. A member of the Rhabdophora ; agrap- 
tolite. 
rhabdophorous (rab-dof 'o-rus), a. [< NL. 
"rhabdopliorus, < Gr. pd,3<5of, a rod, 4- yipeiv = 
L. ferre = E. bear 1 ."] Same as rhabdophoran. 
Rhabdopleura (rab-do-plo'ra), H. [NL. (All- 
man, 1869), < Gr. pdfiAof, a rod, + irfavpov. a 
rib.] The typical genus of Rhabdopleurids, 
having the tentacles confined to a pair of out- 
growths of the lophophore containing each a 
cartilaginoid skeleton. R. nonnawis a marine form 
found in deep water of the North Atlantic, off the coasts 
of Shetland and Normandy. It is a small branching or- 
Kunism, apparently a molluscoid of polyzoan affinities, 
living in a system of delicate membranous tubes, each of 
which contains its polypide, free to crawl up and down 
the tube by means of a contractile stalk or cord called the 
yymnocaulux. 
Rhabdopleurae (rab-do-plo're;, n.pl. [NL., pi. 
of Rhabdopleura.] Aii order of marine poly- 
zoans, represented by the family Rhabdopleu- 
ridse. Also Rhabdoplcurca. 
Rhabdopleuridae (rab-do-plo'ri-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < Rhabdopleura +' -idee."] The family 
represented by the genus Rhabdopleura. To- 
gether with Cephalodiscidee the family forms a particular 
croup of molluscoids, related to polyzoans, and named by 
Lankester Pterobranchia. It forms the type of the sub- 
order Aipidophora of Allman. 
rhabdopleurous (rab-do-plo'rus), a. Pertain- 
ing to the Rhabdopleuridse. or having their 
characters. 
rhabdosphere (rab'do-sfer), n. [< Gr. pd,3rfoc, 
a rod, + aijialpa, a sphere: see sphere."] A mi- 
nute spherical body bristling with rhabdolithic 
rods, found in the depths of the Atlantic, whose 
nature is not yet determined. Sir C. W. Tliom- 
son, Voyage of Challenger, I. 220. 
Rhabdosteidae (rab-dos-te'i-de), 11. pi. [NL., 
< Rhabdogteiis + -idee."] A family of fossil 
toothed cetaceans, typified by the genus Itliab- 
dosteus, having the rostrum prolonged like a 
sword, and maxillary bones bearing teeth on 
their proximal portion. By some paleontologists it 
is referred to the family Platanistida. The only known 
species lived in the Eocene of eastern North America. 
Rhabdosteoidea (rab-dos-te-oi'de-a), n. pi. 
[NL., < Shabdosteus + -oidea.'"] The Rhabdvste- 
idx rated as a superfamily of Denticett. Gill. 
Rhabdosteus (rab-dos'te-us), n. [NL. (Cope, 
1867), < Gr. pdfidof, a rod, + bartof, a bone.] 
The typical genus of Rhabdosteidse. 
RhabdOStyla (rab-do-sti'la). . [NL., < Gr. 
pdfMof, a rod, + OTV)M;, a pillar.] A genus of 
peritrichous ciliate infusorians, related to Vor- 
ticella, but having a rigid instead of a contrac- 
tile pedicel. Six species are described, all of 
fresh water. 
rhabdous (rab'dus), a. [Also rabdous; < rhabd, 
rhabdus, + -ous.~] Having the character of a 
rhabdus ; exhibiting the uniaxial biradiate type 
of structure, as a sponge-spicule. 
rhabdus (rab'dus), n. ; pi. rhabdi (-di). [NL., 
< Gr. pdjtfos, a rod, stick, staff, wand, twig, 
switch.] 1. A sponge-spicule of the monaxon 
biradiate type ; a simple straight spicule. There 
are several kinds of rhabdi, named according to their end- 
ings. A rhabdns sharp at both ends is an oxea ; blunt at 
both ends, a etronyyle; knobbed at both ends, a tylote; 
knobbed at one end and pointed at the other, a tylotoxea ; 
blunt at one end and sharp at the other, a gfrongyloxfa. 
The last two forms are scarcely distinguishable from the 
stylus. 
2. In bot., the stipe of certain fungi, 
rhachial, rhachialgia, etc. See rachial, etc. 
rhachilla, n. See raehilla. 
Rhachiodon, rhachiodont, etc. See Sachio- 
don, etc. 
Rhagodia 
rhachiomyelitis (ra"ki-9-mi-e-li'tis), . [N L. . 
< Gr. pdx/f, the spine, + / ut i c/'<if, marrow, + 
-itix.~] Inflammation of the spinal cord, usually 
called myelitis. 
rhachiotwue (ra'ki-o-tom), . Same as rachi- 
tumc. 
rhachiotomy (ra-ki-ot'o-mi), n. [< Gr. pd,\ii;, 
the spine, + -ropta, < rifivr.iv, Tcifielv, cut.] In- 
cision into an opening of the spinal canal. 
rhachipagus, rhachis, ". See rachipagus, etc. 
rhachischisis (ra-kis'ki-sis), .n. [NL., < Gr. 
pdx'f, the spine, '+ axiatf, a cleaving, < axi&tv, 
cleave: see schism.] In pathol., incomplete 
closure of the spinal canal, commonly called 
*l>iHa bifida. 
rhachitic, rhachitis. See rachitic, etc. 
rhachitome, rhachitomous. See rachitome, 
etc. 
Rhacochilus (rak-o-ki'lus), n. [NL. (Agassiz, 
1854), < Gr. paKof, a rag, rags, + xfltof, lip.] 
In ichth., a genus of embiotocoid fishes. R. 
toxotes is the alfiona. See cut under alfiona. 
Rhacophorus (ra-kof'o-rus), n. [NL., < LGr. 
paKo66pof, wearing rags, < Gr. pdrnf, a rag, rags, 
+ (fifpeiv = TZ. fcear 1 .] A genus of batrachians 
of the family Ranidse, containing arboreal 
frogs with such long and so broadly webbed 
toes that the feet serve somewhat as parachutes 
by means of which the creature takes long 
Hying leaps. R. reinhardti is one of the largest tree- 
frogs, with the body three inches in length, the hind legs 
six inches. See cut under Jlying-froff. 
Rhacophyllum (rak-o-fil'um), n. [NL., < Gr. 
pditof, a rag, rags, + (fi/.Am>, leaf.] A generic 
name given by Schimper (1869) to certain fos- 
sil plants found in the coal-measures of Eng- 
land and Germany, and supposed to be related 
to the ferns, but of very uncertain and obscure 
affinities. Lesquereux has described under this generic 
name a large number of species from the Carboniferous of 
various parts of the United States. 
Rhadamanthine, Rhadamantine (rad-a- 
man'thin, -tin), a. [< L. Rhadamanthus, < Gr. 
'PafiduavOvt, Rhadamanthus (see def.).] Per- 
taining to or resembling Rhadamanthus, in 
Greek mythology one of the three judges of 
the lower world, son of Zeus and Europa, and 
brother of Minos : applied to a solemn and final 
judgment. 
Your doom is Rhadainantine. Carlyle, Dr. Francia. 
To conquer in the great struggle with the devil, with 
incarnate evil, and to have the sentence pronounced by 
the Rhadamanthine voice of the past Well done ! 
J. F. Clarke, Self-Culture, p. 78. 
Rhadinosomus (rad'i-no-so'mus), . [NL. 
(Schonberr, 1840), < Gr. paiivof, ^olic /3paotv6f, 
slender, taper, + aii/ia, body.] A genus of wee- 
vils or Curculionidx. Formerly called Leptoso- 
mus, a name preoccupied in ornithology. 
Rhaetian (re'shian), a. and n. [Also Rhetian ; 
< F. Rhetien, < "L.Rhsetiits, prop. Rsetius, < Rhseti, 
Rasti, the Rhsetians, Rhsstia, Rsetia, their coun- 
try.] I. a. Of or pertaining to the ancient 
Rhseti or their country Rheetia, corresponding 
nearly to the modern Grisons, Vorarlberg, and 
western Tyrol : as, the Rhsetian Alps. 
II. w. A native of Rhsetia. 
Rhaetic (re'tik), . [Also Rhetic; < L. Rhee- 
ticus, prop. Rseticus, < Rhseti, Reeti, the Rhte- 
tians: see Rhsetian.] Of or belonging to the 
RhsBtian Alps Khffltic beds, in geol., certain strata, 
particularly well developed in the Swiss and Tyrolese 
Alps, which are regarded aa being beds of passage be- 
tween the Trias and the Jura. One of the most important 
divisions of the RhaHic series in England is the so-called 
bone-bed, which abounds in bones and teeth of flsh, cop- 
rolites, and other organic remains. 
rhaetizite (re'ti-zit), n. [Prop. "Rhxtieite, irreg. 
< Rhsetic + -ite 2 .] A white variety of cyanite, 
found at Greiner in Tyrol. Also rhetizite. 
Rhseto-Romanic (re'to-ro-man'ik), a. and . 
[< Rhsetic + Romanic."] Belonging to, or a 
member of, the group of Romance dialects 
spoken in southeastern Switzerland, part of 
Tyrol, and in the districts to the north of the 
Adriatic. Also Rlieto-Romanic. 
rhagades(rag'a-dez), n.pl. [NL.,< L. rhagades, 
< Gr. pa} Of, pi'.' pa; aSei;, a chink, crack, rent, a 
crack of the skin, < prftviwai, fta-yjjvai, break: see 
break.] Fissures of the skin; linear excoria- 
tions. 
rhagite (rag'it), w. [< Gr. payi/, a crack (< wy- 
vivai, payffmi, break), + -'e 2 -] A hydrous ar- 
seniate of bismuth occurring in yellow or yel- 
lowish-green crystalline aggregates at Schnee- 
berg in Saxony. 
Rhagodia (ra-go'di-a), w. [NL. (R. Brown, 
1810), named from the resemblance of the clus- 
tered fruit to grapes ; < Gr. payailt/f, like grapes, 
