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large scales on its head. -- Rattlesnake fern (Bot.), a common American fern (Botrychium Virginianum) having a triangular decompound frond and a long-stalked panicle of spore cases rising from the middle of the frond. -- Rattlesnake grass (Bot.), a handsome American grass (Glyceria Canadensis) with an ample panicle o…

f the Highlanders of Scotland; also, the music to the dance; -- often called Scotch reel. Virginia reel, the common name throughout the United States for the old English "country dance," or contradance (contredanse). Bartlett.

That which is reserved, or kept back, as for future use. The virgins, besides the oil in their lamps, carried likewise a reserve in some other vessel for a continual supply. Tillotson.

To render rose-colored; to redden; to flush. [Poetic] "A maid yet rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty." Shak.

The North American red cedar (Juniperus Virginiana.)

The fibrous aromatic root of the Virginia snakeroot (Aristolochia Serpentaria).

One of the order of the Religious Servants of the Holy Virgin, founded in Florence in 1223.

Dress for disguise; guise. [Obs.] Look better on this virgin, and consider This Persian shape laid by, and she appearing In a Greekish dress. Messinger.

Lateral; oblique; not being directly in front; as, a sidelong glance. The bashful virgin's sidelong looks of love. Goldsmith.

lossoms. Also called silk flower. -- Silk vessel. (Zoöl.) Same as Silk gland, above. -- Virginia silk (Bot.), a climbing plant (Periploca Græca) of the Milkweed family, having a silky tuft on the seeds. It is native in Southern Europe.

rmless; innocent; inoffensive. [Obs.] "This silly, innocent Custance." Chaucer. The silly virgin strove him to withstand. Spenser. A silly, innocent hare murdered of a dog. Robynson (More's Utopia).

u art a bitter draught! Sterne. I wish, from my soul, that the legislature of this state [Virginia] could see the policy of a gradual abolition of slavery. It might prevent much future mischief. Washington.

The Virginia snakeroot. See Snakeroot.

rist was a man divinely commissioned, who had no existence before he was conceived by the Virgin Mary; that human sin was the imitation of Adam's sin, and that human salvation was the imitation and adoption of Christ's virtue; that the Bible was to be interpreted by human reason; and that its language was metaphorical,…

United; consolidated; made firm; strengthened. [Obs.] O martyr souded for virginity! Chaucer.

An American endogenous plant (Tradescantia Virginica), with long linear leaves and ephemeral blue flowers. The name is sometimes extended to other species of the same genus.

Splenetic. Shak. Even and smooth as seemed the temperament of the nonchalant, languid Virginian -- not splenitive or rash. T. N. Page.

To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation; to asperse. My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain. Sir P. Sidney. If ever I shall close these eyes but once, May I live spotted for my perjury. Beau. & Fl. To spot timber, to cut or chip it, in preparation for hewing.

or impurity; pure; untained; innocent; as, a spotless mind; spotless behavior. A spotless virgin, and a faultless wife. Waller.

ause; origin; motive. Our author shuns by vulgar springs to move The hero's glory, or the virgin's love. Pope.