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 1594. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., i. 1. "Suffolk, the new-made duke, that rules the roast." Ibid. (1608), Pericles, i. 3. Pand. The poor Transylvanian is dead, that lay with the little baggage. Boult. Ay, she quickly poop'd him; she made him roast meat for worms.

1606. Chapman, Gentleman Usher, v. Ah, I do domineer, and rule the roast.

1634. Lenton, Innes of Court Anag. [Nares]. They boast Of dainty cates, and afterwards cry roast.

d. 1662. Gauden, Tears of the Church, 682. He might not have proclaimed on the housetop to all the world the rost-meat he hath gotten.

1670. Cotton, Scoffer Scofft [Works (1725), 256]. Why then, if I may rule the roast, I affect naked Women most.

1719. Durfey, Pills, iii. 22. When you give a Man Roast-meat, and beat with the Spit.

1748. Smollett, Rod. Random, li. Who was hand and glove with a certain person who ruled the roast. Ibid. (1749), Gil Blas [Routledge], 362. She began to see that there was reason in ROASTING OF EGGS.

1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, iv. v. To trumpet forth the praises of such a person would be crying Roast Meat.

1809. Lamb, Christ's Hospital. The foolish beast, not able to fare well but he must cry roast meat would needs proclaim his good fortune to the world below.

1829. Moncrieff, Giovanni in London, i. 3. Now, sirs, I hope you'll own we are your wives, the rulers of the ROAST.

Roast-and-boiled, subs. phr. (old).—The Life Guards: 'who are mostly substantial housekeepers, and eat daily of ROAST and boiled' (Grose).

Roaster, subs. (Irish).—See quot.

1888. D. Tel., 29 Nov. The meaning of "roasters" was turnspits for landlords; that the names of the "roasters" were kept; that when particular "roasters" were to be boycotted it was the League that boycotted them; and that he dare not work for the men whose names were on the list.

Roasting-jack, subs. phr. (venery).—The female pudendum: see Monosyllable.

Roast-meat clothes, subs. phr. (old).—Sunday or holiday gear (B. E., Grose).

Rob. See Barn, Peter.

Roba. See Bona-roba.

Rob-altar, subs. phr. (old).—A sacrilegious plunderer.

d. 1655. Adams, Works, i. 179. What law can be given to rob-altars?

Robbery. Exchange is no robbery, phr. (old).—An excuse for a forced or jesting imposition.—Heywood (1546); Ray (1760).

1749. Smollett, Gil Blas [Routledge], 35. Since you have taken a fancy to it, an EXCHANGE IS NO ROBBERY a genteel way enough of making a present.

Rob-davy (or Rob-o'-davy), subs. phr. (old colloquial).—Metheglin.

1630. Taylor, Works [Nares]. Peter-see-mea, or headstrong Charnico, Sherry, nor Rob-o'-davy here could flow.

Robe. Gentleman of the Long Robe, subs. phr. (old).—A lawyer: see Long Robe for addit. quots.

1677. Yarranton, Eng. Impr., 34. Three worthy Gentlemen of the Long Robe.

1702. Steele, Grief-a-la-Moae, Pref. Far be it from any Man's Thought to say there are not Men of strict Integrity of the Long Robe, tho' it is not every Body's good Fortune to meet with them.

1856. Motley, Dutch Republic, 1. 377. Rich advocates, and other gentlemen OF THE ROBE.

1863. Thackeray, Roundabout Papers, xviii. His honour being even then a gentleman of the long robe.