ro

n. (Zool.) A cockroach. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To cause to arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cut off, as a horse's mane, so that the part left shall stand upright. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a back like that of roach; -- said of a horse whose back a convex instead of a concave curve. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. rād a riding, that on which one rides or travels, a road, fr. rīdan to ride. See Ride, and cf. Raid. ] 1. A journey, or stage of a journey. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

With easy roads he came to Leicester. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An inroad; an invasion; a raid. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A place where one may ride; an open way or public passage for vehicles, persons, and animals; a track for travel, forming a means of communication between one city, town, or place, and another. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most villainous house in all the London road. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The word is generally applied to highways, and as a generic term it includes highway, street, and lane. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. [ Possibly akin to Icel. reiði the rigging of a ship, E. ready. ] A place where ships may ride at anchor at some distance from the shore; a roadstead; -- often in the plural; as, Hampton Roads. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now strike your saile, ye jolly mariners,
For we be come unto a quiet rode [ road ]. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

rong>On the roadrong>, or
rong>Uponthe roadrong>, traveling or passing over a road; coming or going; traveling; on the way. [ 1913 Webster ] My hat and wig will soon be here,
They are upon the road. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ] --
rong>Road agentrong>, a highwayman, especially on the stage routes of the unsettled western parts of the United States; -- a humorous euphemism. [ Western U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ] The highway robber -- road agent he is quaintly called. The century. [ 1913 Webster ] --
rong>Road bookrong>, a guidebook in respect to roads and distances. --
rong>road killrong> See roadkill in the vocabulary. --
rong>Road metalrong>, the broken, stone used in macadamizing roads. --
rong>Road rollerrong>, a heavy roller, or combinations of rollers, for making earth, macadam, or concrete roads smooth and compact. -- often driven by steam. --
rong>Road runnerrong> (Zool.), the chaparral cock. --
rong>Road steamerrong>, a locomotive engine adapted to running on common roads. --
rong>To go on the roadrong>, to engage in the business of a commercial traveler. [ Colloq. ] --
rong>To take the roadrong>, to begin or engage in traveling. --
rong>To take to the roadrong>, to engage in robbery upon the highways. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Way; highway; street; lane; pathway; route; passage; course. See Way. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. In railroads, the bed or foundation on which the superstructure (ties, rails, etc.) rests; in common roads, the whole material laid in place and ready for travel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. sing. & pl. The body of an animal killed by a vehicle on a road; as, it is illegal in most places for a restaurant to serve roadkill as food for people. Also used metaphorically; as, “roadkill on the information superhighway” (a person or corporation defeated by others more expert at using the internet). [ PJC ]

a. Destitute of roads. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who makes roads. [ 1913 Webster ]