rota 
The experience of those managers who have taken their 
rata of duty in the office. 
RMon- Turner, Vagrants and Vagrancy, p. 254. 
3. A roll or list ; a school-roll, a military roll, 
a roll of jurors, or the like, show-ing the order 
of call or of turns of duty. 
"Whose turn for hot water?" . . . "East's and Tad- 
pole's," answered the senior fag, who kept the rota. 
T. Hughe*, Tom Brown at Rugby, i. 7. 
Its [the county court's] ordinary judicial work . . . re- 
quired the attendance of the parties to suits and the rota 
of qualified Jurors, and of none others. 
Stubbt, Const. Hist., 420. 
4. In music, same as round 1 , or any variety of 
piece in which repeats are frequent. 5. A 
reliquary or other receptacle of circular form, 
ornamented with a cross whose arms reach the 
outer rim so that the whole resembles a wheel. 
6. [cn/i.] An ecclesiastical tribunal in the 
Eoman Catholic Church, having its seat at the 
papal court, it is composed of twelve prelates, called 
auditors, and was formerly the supreme court of justice 
and universal courtof appeal. It is now divided into two 
colleges or senates, and has jurisdiction, in the territory 
of the church, pf all suits by appeal and of all matters 
beneficiary and patrimonial. Owing to the present politi- 
cal position of the papacy, its power is very greatly dimin- 
ished. There is no appeal from its decisions except to the 
Pope. 
rota' 2 (ro'tii), M. [ML., also rotta : see rote'*.'} 
Same as rote&, in either of its senses. 
rotacism, rotacize, etc. See rliotansm, etc. 
rotal (ro'tal), o. [< LL. rotalw, having wheels, 
< L. rota, "a wheel: see rota 1 .} 1. Pertaining 
to a wheel or wheels, or to wheeled vehicles. 
[Rare.] 
The Cannebiere is in a chronic state of vocal and rotal 
tumult. 
O. A. So/o, in Illustrated London News, Nov. 5, 1881, 
I p. 439. (Encyc. Diet.) 
2. Rotary; pertaining to circular or rotary 
motion. [Rare.] Imp. Diet. 
Rotalia (ro-ta'li-a), . [NL. (Lamarck, 1809), 
neut. pi. of LL. rotulis, having wheels: see ro- 
tal.} 'The typical genus of RotaliMse, formerly 
used with great latitude, now much restricted. 
Rotalia. On the right, with extended filamentous pseudopodia ; 
on the left, more enlarged section of the chambered shell. 
The shells or tests of these foraminifers are extremely mi- 
nute, and of a rotate, turbinate, or nautiloid figure. They 
abound from the Chalk onward. 
rotalian (ro-ta'li-an), . and . [< Rotalia + 
-an.} I. a. Pertaining to the genus Rotalia, in 
a broad sense ; rotaline ; rotaliform. 
In the Rotalian series the chambers are disposed in a 
turbinoid spire. W. B. Carpenter, Micros., 483. 
II. n. A member of the genus Rotalia in a 
broad sense. 
Rotalidea (ro-ta-lid'e-a), n. pi. [NL., < Rota- 
lia + -idea.} A group of perforate foramini- 
fers, regarded as an order. It contains groups called 
families and named SpirUlinina, Rotalina, and Tinapori- 
na, and corresponds to the family RotaKidas. 
rotalidean. (ro-ta-lid'e-an), a. and n. [< Rota- 
lidea + -an.} T. a. Rotaline or rotaliform, in 
a broad sense ; of or pertaining to the Rotalidea. 
II. n. A rotalidean foraminifer. 
rotalifqrm (ro-tal'i-fdrm), a. [< NL. Rotalia 
+ L. forma, form.] Shaped like the test of 
members of the genus Rotalia; rotaline inform. 
The peculiarity is that the shell is coiled so as to show all 
the segments on the upper surface, but only those of the 
last convolution on the lower surface, where the aperture 
is situated. Also rotaliiform. 
Eotaliidae (ro-ta-H'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Rotalia 
+ -idee.} A family of rhizopods whose test is 
calcareous, perforate, free or adherent, typi- 
cally spiral, and rotaliform that is to say, 
coiled in such a manner that the whole of the 
segments are visible on the superior surface, 
those of the last convolution only on the infe- 
rior or apertural side, sometimes one face being 
more convex, sometimes the other. Aberrant 
forms are evolute, outspread, acervuline, or irregular. 
Some of the higher modifications have double chamber- 
walls, supplemental skeleton, and a system of canals. See 
cut under Rotalia. 
rotaliiform (ro-ta'li-i-f6rm), a. Same as rotali- 
form. 
5236 
Rptaliinse (ro-ta-li-I'ne), n.pl. [NL., < Rota- 
lia + -inie.} A subfamily of Rotaliidx with the 
test spiral, rotaliform, rarely evolute, and very 
rarely irregular or acervuline. 
Rotalina (ro-ta-li'na), n.pl. [NL., < Rotalia + 
-ina?.} A group of Rotalidea : same as Rotali- 
inse. 
rotaline (ro'ta-lin), a. and . [< NL. Rotalina.} 
I. a. Of or pertaining to the Rotalina or Rota- 
lidea; rotalidean. 
II. H. A member of the Rotalina, Rotaliiiln, 
or Rotalidea. 
rotalite (ro'ta-lit), . [< L. rota, a wheel, + 
Gr. MBof , a stone.] A fossil rotalian or rotaline. 
rotamant (ro'ta-man), n. [< rotal + man.} One 
who belongs to a rota. [Rare.] 
Sidrophel, as foil of tricks 
As Rota-men of politicks, 
Straight cast about to over-reach 
Th' unwary conqueror with a fetch. 
S. Butter, Hudibras, II. iii. 1108. 
rotang (ro'tang), . [< F. (NL.) rotang: see 
ratan.} One of the ratan-palras, Calamus Ro- 
tang. See ratan. 
rotary (ro'ta-ri), a. [< ML. "rotariim, pertain- 
ing to wheels (found as a noun, a wheelwright), 
< L. rota, a wheel: see rotal.] 1. Rotating; 
turning round and round, as a wheel on its 
axis ; having or characterized by rotation : as, 
rotary animalcules; rofan/ motion. 2. Acting 
or held in rotation, as officers or an office; 
turn-about; rotating. [Rare.] 
Several years since they . . . became an Independent 
Presbyterian church with a rotary board of elders. 
The Congregationaliat, May 30, 1864 
Danks rotary furnace. See furnace. Rotary bat- 
tery, a peculiar arrangement of the stamps in a stamping- 
mill, in which they are grouped in circular form instead 
of standing in a straight line as is ordinarily the case. 
Rotary blower, brush, crane. See the nouns. Ro- 
tary cutter, (o) A milling-tool. (6) In metal-working, 
a serrated rotary steel tool used on a mandrel in a lathe 
for operating upon a piece of metal presented to it and 
fed toward it on a slide-rest or other analogous movable 
support, (c) In wood-working: (1) A rotary chisel-edged 
cutter fastened to a cutter-head, or one of a gang of cut- 
ters so attached, used to cut away superfluous wood in 
shaping irregular forms, as in the manufacture of names 
for harness, of fellies for wagon-wheels, of curved chair- 
legs, etc. (2) A solid steel tool having rotating cutting edges, 
in the nature of a burring-tool or router, used in carving- 
machines for cutting ornamental figures in intaglio. In 
working upon wood with rotary cutters, the cutter-head 
shafts or cutter-spindles are sometimes carried by mova- 
ble bearings, and guided after the manner of a tracing- 
point or stylus in a pantograph. In other machines the 
bearings of the cutter-head shafts or spindles are sta- 
tionary, and the work Is itself guided and moved to pro- 
duce the required shape or pattern. See burl, 4 (c), 
and router. Compare also shaper and shaping-machine. 
Rotary fan, in pneumatic engin., a blowing-machine 
consisting of a rotary shaft with vanes or fans that rotate 
in a case to which the shaft-bearings are usually at- 
tached, the air entering the case through central annular 
openings around the shaft, and being driven by centrif- 
ugal force against the inside periphery of the case, 
whence it issues under pressure corresponding with the 
centrifugal force generated, and for any given diameter of 
the fan-wheel depending upon the velocity of rotation. 
Also called fan-blower, fan-wheel, or simply fan. Rotary 
gatherer, in printing, a revolving circular table on which 
the sections of a book are put, and successively brought 
to the gatherer. [Eng. ] Rotary-hearth oven, rotary 
oven. See oven. Rotary press, rotary machine, in 
printing, a printing-press or .machine in which the types 
or plates to I>e printed are fastened upon a rotating cylin- 
der; and are impressed on a continuous roll of paper. See 
printing-machine. Rotary puddler, pump, steam- 
engine. See the nouns. Ro- 
tary shears, shears having cir- 
cular overlapping blades, provid- 
ed with mechanism for rotating 
the blades, which cut at the point 
of intersection of their overlap- 
ping edges. Rotary tubular 
steam-boiler, a tubular boiler 
with a cylindrical shell support- 
ed on trunnions to permit revolu- 
tion. Rotary valve. (a)Avalve 
that acts by partial rotation, after 
the manner of a rock-shaft, thus 
alternately bringing its port or 
ports into continuity and discon- 
tinuity with the port or ports in 
the valve-seat, to which it is ac- 
Rotary Shears. 
, a, cutting edges of one 
' 'f 
, 
CUrately fitted. Such valves were rotary-shear blades formed 
used in the earliest forms of in a single piece of the form 
steam-engines to which auto- 
shown at a; they operate 
matic valve-gear wasapplied, and sh eet of metaC into parallel 
are now used in the automatic strips of uniform width, 
valve-gear of some of the finest 
iable 
lultaneously to cut 
F metal intc 
' uniform w 
variable cut-off engines. (See steam-engine and valve-gear. ) 
When a single rotary valve is used both for induction and 
for eduction, and actuated by an eccentric rod connected 
with a rocker-arm rigidly attached to the body of the valve, 
the principles of this valve- motion are precisely the same 
as those of the common slide-valve motion, the point of 
cut-off depending upon angular advance of the eccentric 
and lap, and the admission being influenced by lead as in 
the slide-valve. Also called rock-valve. See slide-valve, 
cut-off, angular advance (under angular), lap'*, 3, and 
leadi, 8. (ft) A valve which makes complete and succes- 
sive revolutions, thus alternately bringing its port or ports 
rotation 
into continuity and discontinuity with a port or ports in 
its seat. This kind of valve has been but little used. 
rotascope (ro'ta-skop), . [< L. rota, a wheel 
(see rota 1 ), + Gr. aiameiv, view.] Same as gyro- 
scope. 
rotatable (ro'ta-ta-bl), . [< rotate + -alle.} 
Capable of being rotated; admitting of rotation 
or rotatory movement. 
The improvement consists in the rotatable nozzle. 
The Engineer, LXV. 359. 
The rotatable blade is designed ft> do the general work 
of the pressman in making forms ready. 
Sci. Amer., N. S., LX. 306. 
rotatably (ro'ta-ta-bli), adv. In a rotatable 
manner; so as to be rotated. 
Pocketed valve rotatably supported in said casing. 
The Engineer, LXVI. 212. 
rotate (ro'tat), r. ; pret. and pp. rotated, ppr. 
rotating. [< L. rotatus, pp. of rotare ( > It. rotare 
= Pg. Sp. rodar= Pr. rodar, roaar = F. rouer). 
revolve like a wheel, < rota, a wheel : see rota 1 .} 
1. iiitrans. 1. To revolve or move round a 
center or axis; turn in a circle, as or like a 
wheel; have a continuous circular motion. 
2. To turn in a curve upon a center or sup- 
port; have a revolving motion from side to 
side or up and down; specifically, in anat., to 
be rotated; execute one or any of the move- 
ments of rotation. 
In convergence the eyes rotate on the optic axis in op- 
posite directions. O. T. Load, Physiol. Psychology, p. 488. 
3. To go round in succession, as in or among 
a revolving or a repeating series ; alternate se- 
rially; especially, to act or pass in rotation, as 
a set of office-holders or an office Rotating fires. 
Hee/trew'or*, 2. 
II. trans. 1 . To cause to revolve upon an axis 
or upon a support; give a circular or curvilin- 
ear movement to; turn in a curve: as, to ro- 
tate a cylinder by hand; to rotate the head or 
the eyes. 2. To move or change about in a 
series or in rotation; cause to succeed in a 
serial or recurrent order: as, to rotate certain 
men in the tenure of an office. 
The best men would be sooner or later rotated out of 
office, and inferior men would take their places. 
Amer. Sat., June, 1890, p. 549. 
rotate (ro'tat), . [< L. rotatvs, pp. of rotare, 
turn: see rotate, v.} 1. 
In bot., wheel-shaped; 
spreading out nearly 
flat like a wheel : as, the 
limb of a rotate corol- 
la, calyx, etc.: usually 
applied to a gamopet- 
alous corolla with a 
short tube. 2. In zool., 
wheel-shaped ; rotiform ; 
specifically, in entom., 
noting hairs, spines, etc., 
when they form a ring around any organ or 
part, projecting at right angles to the axis. 
rotated (ro'ta-ted), a. [< rotate + -ecft.} Same 
as rotate. 
rotate-plane (ro'tat-plan), a. In bot., wheel- 
shaped and flat, without a tube : as, a rotate- 
plane corolla. Also rotato-plane. 
rotating-ring (ro'ta-ting-ring), . In gun., a 
baud of brass or copper placed around a pro- 
jectile to take the grooves in the bore of a can- 
non and give rotation to the projectile. 
A single rotating ring of copper is used for all calibers. 
dun Foundry Board Report, p. 33. 
rotation (ro-ta'shon), H. [= F. rotation = Sp. 
rotacion = Pg. rotafoo = It. rotazione, < L. ro- 
tatio(n-), < rotare, pp. rotatus, rotate: see ro- 
tate.} 1. The act of rotating or turning, or 
the state of being whirled round ; the continu- 
ous motion of a solid body, as a wheel or sphere, 
about an axis, its opposite sides moving rela- 
tively to one another, as distinguished from the 
forward motion of the whole body in a circle or 
an ellipse independent of any relative motion 
of its parts, as that of the planets. Thus, the daily 
turning of the earth on its axis is a rotation; its annual 
motion round the sun is a revolution. 
In rotations a little force toward the circumference Is 
equal to a greater force towards the centre. 
Bacon, Works (ed. Spedding), IX. 447. 
The axle-trees of chariots . . . [take] fire by the rapid 
rotation of the wheels. Newton, Opticks, hi., query 8. 
She has that everlasting Rotation of Tongue that an 
Echo must wait till she dies before it can catch her last 
Words. Congreve, Way of the World, ii. 4. 
The rotation of the plane of polarization is proportional 
to the strength of the magnetic action. 
J. E. H. Gordon, Elect, and Mag., II. 221. 
2. A peculiar spiral movement of fluids ob- 
served within the cavity of certain vegetable 
Rotate Corolla of Potato 
{Sa/fittrtm tiibtrosum,. 
