Rostrums

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Rostrum \Ros"trum\ (-tr[u^]m), n.; pl. L. {Rostra}, E.
     {Rostrums}. [L., beak, ship's beak, fr. rodere, rosum, to
     gnaw. See {Rodent}.]
     1. The beak or head of a ship.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. pl. ({Rostra}) (Rom. Antiq.) The Beaks; the stage or
        platform in the forum where orations, pleadings, funeral
        harangues, etc., were delivered; -- so called because
        after the Latin war, it was adorned with the beaks of
        captured vessels; later, applied also to other platforms
        erected in Rome for the use of public orators.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Hence, a stage for public speaking; the pulpit or platform
        occupied by an orator or public speaker.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Myself will mount the rostrum in his favor.
                                                    --Addison.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Zool.)
        (a) Any beaklike prolongation, esp. of the head of an
            animal, as the beak of birds.
        (b) The beak, or sucking mouth parts, of Hemiptera.
        (c) The snout of a gastropod mollusk. See Illust. of
            {Littorina}.
        (d) The anterior, often spinelike, prolongation of the
            carapace of a crustacean, as in the lobster and the
            prawn.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     5. (Bot.) Same as {Rostellum}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (Old Chem.) The pipe to convey the distilling liquor into
        its receiver in the common alembic. --Quincy.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. (Surg.) A pair of forceps of various kinds, having a
        beaklike form. [Obs.] --Coxe.
        [1913 Webster]