rob 
or sugar to the consistence of a conserve ; a con- 
serve of fruit. [Now prov. Eng. and pharma- 
ceutical.] 
The Bob [margin, Hob of Ribes] that is, the juyce of 
the berries boyled with a third part or somewhat more 
of Sugar added unto it, till it become thick, ... is ... 
preferred before the raw berries themselves. 
Venner, Via Recta ad Vitam Longam (1637), p. 167. 
The Infusion and Decoction . . . passeth into a Jelly, 
Defrutum, sapa Rob extract which contain all the virtues 
of the Infusion or Decoction freed only from some of the 
watery parts. Arbuthnot, Aliments, III. v. 7. 
robalo (rob 'a -Id), . [Sp. rdbalo = Pg. robato 
= Cat. llobarro, a fish so called ; said to be < L. 
labrus, labros, < Gr. /td/Jpaf, a fish, the sea-wolf : 
see Labrax.~] A fish of the genus Centropomus, 
represented by many species in tropical Amer- 
ica. ('. undecimalis is abundant in the West Indian and 
adjacent waters. It is a large and important food-fish, of 
a silvery color, greenish above, with sharp black lateral 
line, dusky dorsal and caudal fins, the other fins yellowish. 
See cut under Centropomut. 
rob-altar (rob'al"tar), . [< rob*, ., + obj. 
altar."} A plunderer of what is consecrated or 
sacred. 
" Will a man rob God?" . . . But, alas ! what law can 
be given to rob-aitars f Rev. T. Adamt, Works, I. 179. 
roband (rob'and), H. Same as rabbin*. 
All hands were . . . kept on deck hour after hour In a 
drenching rain, . . . picking old rope to pieces, or laying 
up gaskets and robanas. 
X. a. Dana, Before the Mast, p. 105. 
robber (rob'er), . [< ME. robber, robbere, rob- 
bare, earlier robbour, robbeour, < OF. robeor, 
robbeur, robeur = Sp. robador = Pg. roubador = 
It. rubatore, < ML.*ra6a<or, robator, < raubare, 
rob: see rob 1 . Doublet of reaper.] One who 
robs ; one who commits a robbery ; in a looser 
sense, one who takes that to which he has no 
right ; one who steals, plunders, or strips by 
violence and wrong. 
Jtobbours and reuers that riche men dispoilen. 
Piers Plowman (C), xlv. 58. 
The Bandits, which are the murdering robbers upon the 
Alpes, and many places of Italy. Coryat, Crudities, I. 141. 
Robber council or synod. Same as Latrociniwm, 2. 
= Syn. Robber, Thief, Pilferer, Freebooter, Marauder, Brig- 
and, Bandit, Pirate, depredator, despoiler, rifler, highway- 
man, footpad. (See pillage, n. ) A thief takes other people's 
property without their knowledge ; a robber takes it open- 
ly, whether or not resistance is offered : in a looser sense, 
thief is often applied to one who takes a small amount, 
and robber to one who takes a large amount. A pUferer 
takes very small amounts by stealth. A freebooter and a 
marauder rove about, robbing and plundering : the word 
freebooter emphasizes the fact that the man helps him- 
self at his pleasure, while marauder suggests the loss, in- 
convenience, fright, or distress produced. A brigand or 
bandit is one of an organized band of outlaws and robbers, 
especially in certain countries long known as infested with 
such bands ; bandit is rather a poetic or elevated word ; 
brigand is more common in prose. A. pirate is a brigand 
of the sea. All these words have considerable extension 
by metonymy or hyperbole. 
robber-crab (rob'er-krab), n. A hermit-crab; 
a member of the family Paguridx, especially 
Birgus latro: so called from its habit of stealing 
cocoanuts. See cut under palm-crab. 
robber-fly (rob'er-fli), . Any dipterous insect 
of the family Asilidx. They are large swift flies with 
strong proboscis, and prey upon other insects. They are 
also called hornet-flies and hawk-flies. The term robber- 
fly is taken direct from the German raubfliege. See cute 
under Asiltts, hawk-fly, and Promachus. 
robber-gull (rob'6r-gul), n. The skua, or other 
jager. See Lestridinse, Lestris. 
robbery (rob'er-i), n. ; pi. robberies (-iz). [< 
ME. robberie, robry, roberie, < OF. roberie, rob- 
berie, robbery, < robber, rob: see rob*. Cf. 
reavery.'] The act or practice of robbing; a 
plundering; a pillaging; a taking away by vio- 
lence, wrong, or oppression ; the act of unjust- 
ly and forcibly depriving one of anything; 
specifically, in law, the felonious and forcible 
taking of the property of another from his per- 
son, or in his presence, against his will, by vio- 
lence or by putting him in fear ( Wharton). it 
is a more serious offense than larceny, by reason of the ele- 
ment of force or fear entering into it 
Thieves for their robbery have authority 
When judges steal themselves. 
Shak., M. for M., ii. 2. 176. 
Highway robbery, robbery committed in or near a high- 
way. At common law no other robbery was punishable 
with death. = Syn. Depredation, spoliation, despoilment 
See robber. 
robbin 1 (rob'in), w. [Also roband; appar. contr. 
of rope-band. In sense 2 appar. of same origin.] 
1. A short piece of spun-yarn, rope-varn, or 
sennit, used to fasten the head of a sail to the 
yard or gaff by passing several turns through 
the eyelet-hole in the sail and around the jack- 
stay. 2. The spring of a carriage. Simmoiids. 
robbin 2 (rob'in), . [< F. robin ; appar. of E. 
Ind. origin.] In com., the package in which 
6202 
Ceylonese and other dry goods, as pepper, are 
imported. The Malabar robbin of rice weighs 
84 pounds. Simmonds. 
robbin 3 (rob'in), n. An occasional spelling of 
robin*. 
rob-Davyt, . See rob-o-Dary. 
robe 1 (rob), n. [< ME. robe, roobe, < OF. robe, 
robbe, reube, F. robe, a robe, = Pr. raitba = Cat. 
roba = Sp. ropa = Pg. roupa = It. roba, dress, 
merchandise, goods, < ML. rauba, spoil, < OHG. 
roub, robbery, breakage, MHG. roup, robbery, 
booty, spoil, garment, G. raub = D. roof = OS. 
rof = AS. red/, spoil, clothing, = Icel. ran/, 
spoil : see reaf and reave. Cf. rob*.] 1. A 
gown or long loose garment worn over other 
dress; a gown or dress of a rich, flowing, or 
elegant style or make. 
A womman wortheli yclothed, . . . 
Hire robe was ful riche of red scarlet engreyned, 
With rlbanes of red golde and of riche stones. 
Piers Plowman (B), ii. 15. 
2. An official vestment; a flowing garment 
symbolizing honor, dignity, or authority. 
The roba of a judge do not add to his virtue ; the chief- 
est ornament of kings is justice. 
Booker, Eccles. Polity, vIL 20. 
Thou shall take the garments, and put upon Aaron the 
coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod. 
Ex. xxlx. 5. 
I am sorry one I esteemed ever the flrst of his robe should 
so undeservedly stain me. Penn, To Dr. Tillotson. 
3. Any garment; apparel in general; dress; 
costume. 
Bion. Petruchio Is coming in a new hat and an old jer- 
kin, a pair of old breeches thrice turned. . . . 
Tra. [To Petruchio.] See not your bride In these un- 
reverent robet. Shale., T. of the S., ill. 2. 114. 
Say, have you got no armour on? 
Have you no under robe of steel? 
Duel of Wharton and Stuart (Child's Ballads, VIII. 262). 
4. Hence, that which covers or invests; some- 
thing resembling or suggesting a robe. 
She tore the azure robe of night, 
And set the stars of glory there. 
Drake, The American (lag. 
Another [cottage] wore 
A close-set robe of jasmine sown with stars. 
Tennyson, Aylmer's Field. 
5. A woman's gown of any cut or fabric, with 
trimmings, usually in the form of bands or bor- 
ders, woven in or embroidered on the material. 
[Trade and dressmakers' term.] 6. A dressed 
skin or pelt : first applied to that of the Amer- 
ican bison, but now to that of any animal when 
used for a carriage- or sleigh-rug, and by ex- 
tension to any protecting wrap used in driving : 
as, a linen lap-ro&e. [U. S.J 
The large and roomy sleigh decked with buffalo, black 
bear, and lynx robes. 
The Upper Ten Thousand, p. 4. (Bartlett.) 
Under the head of robe was included all [buffalo] cow 
skins taken during the proper season, from one year old 
upward, and all bull skins from one to three years old. 
Bull skins over three years of age were classed as hides, 
and while the best of them were anally tanned and used 
as robes, the really poor ones were converted into leather. 
W. T. Hornaday, Smithsonian Report, 1887, Ii. 443. 
7. The largest and strongest tobacco-leaves, 
which are used as covers for the thicker kinds 
of pigtail. [U. S. ] 8. Eccles. , specifically, the 
early chasuble, a large garment covering the 
body. Compare garment, 2. 9. pi. Garments 
of state or ceremony, forming together an en- 
tire costume. Thus, coronation robes may include all 
the garments worn by a prince at the time of his corona- 
tion, and always include the outer or decorative pieces, 
as the dalmatic, the mantle, etc. Guarded robet. See 
guard. Master of the robes, an officer in the royal 
household of Great Britain charged with ordering the sov- 
ereign's robes, and having several officers under him, as a 
clerk of the robes, wardrobe-keepers, etc. Under a queen 
this office is performed by a lady, designated mistress of the 
robes, who holds the highest rank among the ladies in the 
service of the queen. Pack of robes, ten robes of buf- 
falo-hide packed together for transportation to market. 
[U. S.] The robe, or the long robe, the legal profes- 
sion : as, gentlemen of the long robe. 
Far be it from any Man's Thought to say there are not 
Men of strict Integrity of the Long Robe, tho' it is not 
every Body's good Fortune to meet with them. 
Steele, Grief A-la-Mode, Pref. 
Rich advocates, and other gentlemen of the robe. 
Motley, Dutch Republic, I. 377. 
robe 1 (rob), r. ; pret. and pp. robed, ppr. rulihii/. 
[< ME. roben; < robe*, .] I. trans. 1. To put 
a robe on ; clothe in a robe ; especially, to clothe 
magnificently or ceremoniously: as, to robe a 
sovereign for a coronation. 
Thou robed man of justice, take thy place. 
SAo*., tear, iii. 6. 38. 
2. To clothe or dress in general. 
Thus robed in russett, ich romede a-boute. 
Piers Plov-man (C), xi. 1. 
robin 
Here and there a tall Scotch flr, completely robed in 
snow. B. Taylor, Northern Travel, p. 117. 
The elms have robed their slender spray 
With full-blown flower and embryo leaf. 
0. W. Holmes, Spring has Come. 
II. in trans. To put on a robe or robes; as- 
sume official vestments: as, the judges are 
robing; the clergy robed in the vestry. 
robe 2 (rob), . An abbreviation of arroba. 
robe-de-chambre (rob-de-shom'br), . [F. : 
robe, robe; de, of; chambre, cliamber.] 1. A 
dressing-gown or morning dress, whether for 
men or for women the exact signification vary- 
ing with the fashion and habits of the day. 2f. 
A dress cut in a certain negligee style : thus, a 
robe-de-cfiambre is mentioned as worn at a party 
in 1732. 
robe-maker (rob'ma"'ker), M. A maker of offi- 
cial robes, as for clergymen, university dignita- 
ries, and others. 
The modern Anglican rochet is sleeveless, the bulbous 
sleeves having been wholly detached from it by the Caro- 
line tailors or robe-makers. Lee, Eccles. Gloss., p. 338. 
roberd (rob'erd), ii. [A familiar use of Soberd, 
a form of the personal name Robert. Cf. robin 1 , 
robinet.~] The chaffinch. Also robinet. 
Roberdsmant, . See Roberteman, 
robert (rob'ert), 11. Same as Iierb-robert. 
Robertmant, Same as Robertsman. 
Robertsmant, Roberdsmant (rob'erts-man, 
rob'erdz-man), n. [Also Robartsman, Robert- 
man; ME. robfrdesman (also Roberdes knave), 
supposed to be so called because regarded or 
feigned to be one of Robin (Robert) Hood's 
men.] A bold, stout robber or night thief. 
Robartes men, or Roberdsmen, were a set of lawless vaga- 
bonds, notorious for their outrages when Pierce Plowman 
was written. . . . The statute of Edward the Third (an. 
reg. 5, c. xiv.) specifies " divers manslaughters, felonies, 
and robberies, done by people that be called Roberdesmen, 
Wastours, and drawlatches." And the statute of Richard 
the Second (an. reg. 7, c. v.) ordains that the statute of 
King Edward concerning Roberdesmen and Drawlacches 
shall be rigorously observed. Sir Edward Coke (Instil, iii. 
197.) supposes them to have been originally the followers 
of Robin Hood in the reign of Richard the First. See 
Hlackstone's Comni., B. iv. ch. 17. 
T. Warton, Hist Eng. Poetry (1840), II. 94, 95. 
Roberta's pelvis. See pelvis. 
Robervallian (rob-er-val'i-an), a. Pertaining 
to G. P. de Roberval (1602-75), a noted French 
mathematician Robervallian line, a curve of infi- 
nite length but of finite area. 
Roberval's balance. See balance. 
roberycht. . A Middle English form of rubric. 
Ballitcell. 
robin 1 (rob'in), w. [Short for robin-redbreast, 
early mod. E. re%ii redbrest, < ME. 'robin red- 
breast, robinet redbrest, in which the first ele- 
ment was orig. a quasi-proper name, Robin, < 
OF. Robin, Robin (a name also given to the 
sheep), a familiar dim. of Robert, Robert (a 
name early known in England, as that of the 
oldest son of William I.), = Sp. Pg. It. Roberto, 
also Ruperto (> E. Rupert), < OHG. Ruodpert, 
MHG. G. Rupreciit, lit. 'fame-bright,' illustrious 
in fame, < OHG. ruod (= AS. *liroth- (in proper 
name Hrothgar = G. Rudiger, > ult. E. Roger: 
see Roger) = Icel. Iirothr, praise, fame, = Goth. 
'hrotli, in hrotheigs, victorious, triumphant) + 
perht, peraht, MHG. berht = E. bright*: see 
bright*.] 1. A small sylviine bird of Europe, 
Erythacus rube- 
cula, more fully 
called robin-red- 
breast, and also 
redbreast, robin- 
et, and ruddock. 
It is more like a 
warbler than like a 
thrush, only about 
5j inches long and 
9 in extent of wings ; 
the upper parts are 
olive-green ; thefore- 
head, sides of the 
head, front of the 
neck, and fore part 
of the breast are yel- 
lowish-red (whence 
the name redbreast). 
It is an abundant 
and familiar British 
bird, widely distributed in other parts of the Palearctic 
region. The song is rich, mellow, and finely modulated. 
Robin-redbreast (Erythacus rttbecula}. 
The nest is placed on the ground, in herbage or moss, 
generally under a hedge or bush. The eggs are usually 
five or six in number, pinkish-white freckled with pur- 
plish-red. This robin is a common figure in English 
nursery tales and folk-lore. 
Art thou the bird whom Man loves best, 
The pious bird with the scarlet breast, 
Our little English Robin? 
Wordsworth, Redbreast Chasing the Butterfly. 
