from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Road \Road\ (r[=o]), n. [AS. r[=a]d a riding, that on which one
rides or travels, a road, fr. r[imac]dan to ride. See {Ride},
and cf. {Raid}.]
1. A journey, or stage of a journey. [Obs.]
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With easy roads he came to Leicester. --Shak.
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2. An inroad; an invasion; a raid. [Obs.] --Spenser.
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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.
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The most villainous house in all the London road.
--Shak.
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Note: The word is generally applied to highways, and as a
generic term it includes highway, street, and lane.
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4. [Possibly akin to Icel. rei[eth]i 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.
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Now strike your saile, ye jolly mariners,
For we be come unto a quiet rode [road]. --Spenser.
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{On the road}, or {Uponthe road}, traveling or passing over a
road; coming or going; traveling; on the way.
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My hat and wig will soon be here,
They are upon the road. --Cowper.
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{Road agent}, a highwayman, especially on the stage routes of
the unsettled western parts of the United States; -- a
humorous euphemism. [Western U.S.]
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The highway robber -- road agent he is quaintly
called. --The century.
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{Road book}, a guidebook in respect to roads and distances.
{road kill} See {roadkill} in the vocabulary.
{Road metal}, the broken, stone used in macadamizing roads.
{Road roller}, a heavy roller, or combinations of rollers,
for making earth, macadam, or concrete roads smooth and
compact. -- often driven by steam.
{Road runner} (Zool.), the chaparral cock.
{Road steamer}, a locomotive engine adapted to running on
common roads.
{To go on the road}, to engage in the business of a
commercial traveler. [Colloq.]
{To take the road}, to begin or engage in traveling.
{To take to the road}, to engage in robbery upon the
highways.
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Syn: Way; highway; street; lane; pathway; route; passage;
course. See {Way}.
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