Ros"trum (-trŭm), 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.
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.
3. Hence, a stage for public speaking; the
pulpit or platform occupied by an orator or public speaker.
Myself will mount the rostrum in his
favor.
Addison.
4. (Zoöl.) (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.
5. (Bot.) Same as
Rostellum.
6. (Old Chem.) The pipe to convey the
distilling liquor into its receiver in the common alembic.
Quincy.
7. (Surg.) A pair of forceps of various
kinds, having a beaklike form. [Obs.] Coxe.
Ros"trum (-trŭm), 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.
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.
3. Hence, a stage for public speaking; the
pulpit or platform occupied by an orator or public speaker.
Myself will mount the rostrum in his
favor.
Addison.
4. (Zoöl.) (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.
5. (Bot.) Same as
Rostellum.
6. (Old Chem.) The pipe to convey the
distilling liquor into its receiver in the common alembic.
Quincy.
7. (Surg.) A pair of forceps of various
kinds, having a beaklike form. [Obs.] Coxe.
