robin 
A strange world where the robin was a little domestic 
liinl that fed at the table, instead of a (treat fidgety, jerky, 
whooping thrush. 0. W. Holmes, Old Vol. of Life, p. 172. 
2. The red-breasted or migratory thrush of 
North America, Turdi/s mif/ratnriiot or Meruln 
iiiii/ratoria, one of the most abundant and fa- 
5203 
robin : accentor (rob'in-ak-sen'tor), ii. A small 
sylviine bird of Asia, Accentor riibcciiloMen: an 
occasional book-name, translating the specific 
designation bestowed by Moore in 1854 from 
Hodgson's MSS. This bird belongs to the same ge- 
nus as the common hedge-sparrow of Europe, A.modu- 
larig, but resembles the British robin in the color of the 
breast. It inhabits the Himalayas and southward, Cash- 
mere, Sikhim, etc. 
robin-breast (rob'in-brest), n. The robin- 
snipe, or red-breasted sandpiper. 
robin-dipper (rob'in-dip"er), w. The buffle, or 
buffle-headed duck. [New Eng.] 
robinet (rob'in-et), . [< ME. robinet, a chaf- 
finch, <. OF. Robinet, 'little Robin,' dim. of 
Robin, Robin; as a common noun, OF. robinet, 
a pipkin, tap, cock, F. robinet, a tap, cock.] 1. 
A chaffinch. Also roberd. Cath. Ang., p. 310. 
2. A little robin. Seero&tnl, 1. Drayton, Muses' 
Elysium, yiii. 3. A tap or faucet. 4f. A mil- 
itary engine for throwing darts and stones. 
Grose. 
robing (ro'bing), . [Verbal n. of roftel, c.] 1. 
The act of putting on a robe or ceremonious 
apparel. 2. 
the like 
American Robin (Merulit tnigratoria). 
pparel. 2. Material for women's gowns and Plncusnion. SameastVc 
lie like : a term of the eighteenth century. 3. robin-ruddock (rob i 
L kind of trimming like a flounce or ruffle, used '" ' 
roboreous 
It is characterized by racemed flowers from the axils or 
fascicled at the older nodes, commonly free banner-sta- 
men, blunt anthers, numerous ovules, somewhat rigid 
style, and usually flat and two-valved pod. It includes 
18 genera, of which 11 are American, 1 African, 3 Austra- 
lasian, and 1 (Sesbania) of general distribution. They are 
either herbs, shrubs, or trees, rarely shrubby climbers. 
For important genera, see Robinia (the type), Sesbania, 
and Olneya. 
robin-redbreast (rob'in-red'brest), n. [Early 
mod. E. robyn redbrcst: see ro&iwl.] 1. Same 
as robin 1 , 1. 
Robyn redbrest, 
He shall be the preest 
The requiem masse to synge. 
Skelton, Phyllyp Sparowe, 1. 399. 
No burial this pretty pair 
Of any man receives, 
Till Robin-red-brcast piously 
Did cover them with leaves. 
Children in the Wood (Child's Ballads, III. 183). 
2. Same as robin 1 , 2. 3. The American blue- 
bird, KiaKasialis: an occasional misnomer. See 
bluebird, and cut under Sittlia. 4. The old-time 
Bow street runner: in allusion to the color of 
his waistcoat. [Slang, Eng.] Robin-redbreast's 
pincushion. Same as bedegar. 
'in-rud'ok), n. Same as 
miliar of North American birds : so called from 
the reddish-brown color of the under parts, 
which, however, is very different, both in hue 
and in extent, from that of the European red- 
breast. This robin is 10 inches long and 16 in extent of 
wings. The upper parts are slate-color with an olive 
shade; most of the under parts are chestnut-red; the 
vent-feathers are white, with dusky markings ; the head is 
black, with white marks about the eyes and white streaks 
on the throat ; and the tail is blackish, usually marked 
with white at the ends of the outer feathers. The bill is 
mostly yellow. The robin inhabits the whole of North 
America ; it is migratory, feeds on insects, worms, berries, 
and other fruits, and breeds at large throughout its range, 
building a large strong nest of hay and mud on a bough, 
and laying from four to six uniform greenish-blue eggs, 
1J inches long by J inch broad. Also, familiarly, robin- 
redbreast. 
3. With a qualifying term, one of numerous 
warbler-like or thrush-like birds, more or less 
nearly related to or resembling either of the 
foregoing: as, the blue-throated robin. (See 
Cyanecula, and cut under bluethro/it.) Some of 
these terms are book-name^, others are casual transfers of 
the word robin by English residents in various parts of the 
world, especially India and Australia. In the latter region 
are various flycatchers (Muscicapidee) of the genus Petrceca 
and its subdivisions, some of which are called robins, as 
the scarlet -breasted, P. multicolor, peculiar to Norfolk 
Island. Some of the Asiatic chats of the genus Proton- 
cola are known as Indian robins; these are related to the 
British whinchat and stonechat, and do not particularly 
resemble the true robin of England. Others, recently sepa- 
rated generically under the name Erythromyias, inhabit 
Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and other islands of the same zoo- 
geographical region, and resemble the true robin, as B. 
dumetoria and K. mmlleri. The red-breasted flycatcher, 
Mitscicapa (Eri/throsterna) parva, which ranges from cen- 
tral Europe into India, bears a striking resemblance to the 
true robin. Among other Indian robins, loosely so called, 
may be noted one sometimes specified as the water-robin. 
This is a flycatcher, Xanthopygia fulir/iiwsa, originally de- 
scribed by Vigors in 1831 as Phoznicura fuliyinosa, and 
commonly catalogued as Ruticilla fvliginosa (after G. R. 
Gray) ; but it does not belong to the same family as the 
robin, nor to the same genus as the redstart. It inhabits 
the Himalayan region, and ranges widely in China and In- 
dia. It has been placed in 5 different genera, two of which, 
Rhyacornis of Blanford and Nympheeus of A. 0. Hume, 
were specially framed for its reception. 
4. The robin-snipe or red-breasted sandpiper, 
Tringa canutus: a clipped name among gun- 
ners. Mao beach-robin. See two* 2 , 1. 5. The 
sea-robin or red-breasted merganser, Mcrgux 
fterrator. [Massachusetts.] 6. In ichtli., a sea- 
robin or flying-robin; one of several kinds 
of TrigUdse. 7. A local name of the pinfish. 
[U. S.] 8. A name variously applied (common- 
ly as part of a compound) to the herb-robert, to 
species of Lychnis, and to some other plants. 
Red-robin denotes, besides the wheat-rust, the herb-robert, 
the Lychnis diurna, etc. See ragged-robin and wake-robin. 
[Prov. Eng.] Golden robin, the Baltimore oriole, Icterus 
galbula. Ground robin, the chewink. See marsh-robin, 
and cut under Pipilo. [Local. U. S.] Magpie robin, a 
dayal. See cut under Copsichus. Oregon robin, the va- 
ried thrush, Turdm ntemm or HetperoMchla ruffiia. Red 
robin, the scarlet tanager. [Local, u. S.] Robin red- 
breast. 3eerobi.n-redbreast. Robin's-egg blue, a green- 
ish blue, like that of the American robiiVs egg. Round 
robin. See round-rntin, .5. Sea robin. See ma-robin. 
St. Lucas robin, Turdua or Menda confinis, much like but 
specifically distinct from the common American robin in- 
habiting Lower California. Water-robin. See clef. 3. - 
Yellow robin, an Australian bird of the genus Eopsaltria. 
robin 2 t (rob'in), u. [Appar. ult. due to the F. 
name Robin: see robisf.] A trimming on the 
front of a dress. Dtirim. 
Several pieces of printed calico, remnants of silk, and 
such like, that . . . would serve for robing and facings. 
Richardson. Pamela, I. xxix. 
robin 3 , . Same as robbiift. 
A kind of trimming 
on women's and children's garments. Diet, of Dvd y u ever 8ee two 8ucne 1Ittle Bobin ruddockes 
Wfrrllnnnrl- So laden wlth breeches? 
iT v- rt j* 11 ^. -i K - Edwards, Damon and Pythias. 
Robin Goodfellow. 1. A domestic spirit or , . . . . , 
fairy, said to be the offspring of a mortal rpbm-run-m-tne-nedge (rob m-run m-the- 
woman and Oberon, king of Fairyland. He is H^* The ground-ivy, A^eia G/ CC /ioa; the 
bedstraw, Gahum Apartne; rarely the bind- 
weed, Convolvulus sepium; and the bittersweet, 
Solamtm Dulcamara. [Prov. Eng.] 
robin-sandpiper (rob'in-sand'pi-per), n. Same 
as robin-snipe, 1. 
robin-snipe (rob'in-snip), . 1. The red-breast- 
ed or ash-colored sandpiper ; the Canute or knot, 
Tringa canutus. In plain gray plumage it is 
also called white robin-snipe. See ktioff, 1. 2. 
Same as red-breasted snipe (a) (which see, under 
red-breasted). [New Eng.] 
See 
analogous to the brownie of Scotland. It was from the 
popular belief in this spirit that Shakspere's Puck was 
derived. 
2. As a general name, an elf; a fairy. 
Kottri, or Eibaldi ; such as wee 
Pugs and Hob-goblins call. Their dwellings bee 
In corners of old houses least frequented, 
Or beneath stacks of wood : and these conuented, 
Make fearefull noise in Buttries and in Dairies ; 
Robin yood-fellowes some, some call them Fairies. 
Heywood, Hierarchy of Angels, p. 574. 
robing-room (ro'bing-rom), n. A room where u 
robes of ceremony are put on and off ; a vestiary : robin's-plantain (rob^nz-plan'tan), . 
as, the peers' robing-room in the House of Lords, plantain^. 
Eobinia (ro-bin'i-a), n. [NL. (Linnieus, 1737), robin's-rye (rob'inz-ri), n. The haircap-moss, 
named after the royal gardeners at Paris, Jean Polytriclimn juniperinum : so called, perhaps, as 
Robin (1550-1629) and his son Vespasien Robin; suggesting a miniature grain-field. Also robin- 
the latter introduced this genus into Europe, wlieat. See haircap-moss. 
under the name Pseudacacia, in 1635.] A ge- robin-wheat (rob'in-hwet),i. Same as robin's- 
nus of leguminous trees and shrubs of the rye. 
tribe Galegese, type of the subtribe Robinieee; The birds are not the only harvesters of the pretty moss 
the locusts. It is characterized by a legume with known as robin-wheat. Pop. Sa. Mo., XXIX. 368. 
thin valves, winged on its upper margin, and by papilio- ,, , -,,,, r , 
naceous flowers with a broad reflexed standard, an awl- TOble (ro bl), . [< bp. roble, oak-tree, < L. 
robur, oak, oak-tree : see robust. ~] 1 . In Cali- 
fornia, one of the white oaks, Quercus lobata, 
also called weeping oak. It is a majestic tree 
with very widely spreading branches ; its wood 
is of little value except for fuel. 2. In the 
West Indies, Platymiscium platystacJtyum and 
Catalpa longisiliqua, trees yielding ship-timber. 
3. In Chilij a species of beech, Fagus obli- 
qua, which affords a durable hard-wood build- 
ing-material. 
rob-0-Davyt, n. [Prob. orig. rob-of-Davy, 'Da- 
vy's syrup' (see rob 2 ) ; Davy being a familiar 
term for a Welshman, and metheglin a Welsh 
name for mead.] Methegliu. 
Sherry, nor Rob-o-Davy here could flow, 
The French frontiniacke, claret, red nor white, 
Graves nor high-country, could our hearts delight. 
Taylor's Works (1630). (If am.) 
roborant (rob'o-rant), a. and . [= F. roborant 
= Sp. Pg. It. roborante, < L. roboran(t-)s, ppr. 
of roborare, strengthen : see roborate.'] I. a. 
Tonic ; strengthening. 
II. n. A medicine that strengthens; atonic. 
roboratet (rob'o-rat), v. t. [< L. roboratus, pp. 
of roborare, strengthen (> It. roborare = Sp. 
Pg. roborar = OF. roberer), < robur (robor-), 
strength: see robust. Cf . corroborate.'] To give 
strength to; strengthen; confirm; establish. 
Flowering Branch of Locust (Robittia Pseittiaracia). 
a, pod ; #, flower. 
This Bull also relateth to ancient priviledges of popes 
and princes, bestowed upon her; which herein are robo- 
rated and confirmed. 
I 'viler, Hist, of Cambridge Univ., ii. 37. 
shaped inflexed style terminating a stalked and many- 
ovuled ovary, and surrounding these a long sheath of ten 
diadelphous stamens, one of them partly, or at length whol- 
ly, free. The branchlets and leafstalks are nearly smooth, 
bristly, or viscid-hairy. The leaves are unequally pinnate _ 
with stipulate leaflets, and are furnished with a pair of TOboratlon (rob-o-ra'shon), H. [= OF. robora- 
bristle-shaped stipules, or of short stout spines in their tion = Sp. roboracion = Pg. roboracSo, < ML. 
place. The flowers are white or rose-purple, borne in con- roborntindi 1 a Rtrpmrthpninrr < T, rrihnrnrp 
spicuous racemes. There are 5 or 6 species, 2 of them ; ' a Q1 ^g' V " H *, 
little-known Mexican trees, the others native in the south- strengthen: see roborate. Cf. corroboratton.] 
ern and central United States. Of the latter the chief A strengthening. Bdilei/, 1731. [Rare.] 
Is B. Pmtdamcia the i common locust or false acacia, roborean (ro-bo're-an), a. [< L. robo-rciix. of 
widely planted and naturalized in the Northern States, ], / , j.,,),,),.,,,),;,,-;' 4. n ' a ame > no rnhn 
also much planted in Europe, where it presents several ,''"'-",>' TU J 
varieties. For this and other species, see locusts, i, and reoil.t. liailei/, 1(31. [Kare.] 
/".-. ,im csci ; also acacia, 3. roborCOUS (ro-bo're-us), it. [< L. roborrux, 
Robiniese (rob-i-ni'e-e), ii. i>t. [NL. (Bentham made of oak, < robur, an oak: see robust.] 
and Hooker, 1862), < Rnbinia + -ese.] A sub- Made of oak; hence, strong. Bailey, 1727. 
tribe of leguminous plants of the tribe Galegese. [Rare.] 
