xpended. It is generally kept in
balance by a long light stick or tail attached. The case is made of
metal or paper, and variously headed to the amount of 32 lbs. if its
purpose be war (_see_ CONGREVE-ROCKETS); life-saving (by conveying a
line over a stranded vessel); even the killing of whales, when reduced
to 1, 2, or 3 lbs.; or, lastly, signals, for which it is fired straight
upwards.

ROCKET-BOAT. Flat-bottomed boats, fitted with rocket-frames to fire
Congreve rockets from, in naval bombardment.

ROCKET-BRIGADE. A body of horse-artillery assigned to rocket service.

ROCKET-FRAME. The stand from which Congreve rockets are fired.

ROCK-HIND. A large fish of tropical regions, _Serranus catus_.

ROCK-SCORPION. A name applied to persons born at Gibraltar.

ROD. The connecting and coupling bars of the steam-engine. (_See_
SOUNDING-ROD.)

RODD. A sort of cross-bow formerly in use in our navy.

RODDEN-FLEUK. A northern name for the turbot.

RODDING TIME. The season for fish-spawning.

RODE OF ALL. Improperly so written for _rowed of all_ (which see). The
order to throw in and boat the oars.

RODGERS' ANCHOR. The excellent small-palmed, very strong and
good-holding anchor. It is the result of many years' study and
experiment by Lieutenant Rodgers, R.N.

RODMAN GUN. One cast on the excellent method of Captain Rodman, formerly
of the United States Ordnance--viz. on a core artificially kept cool;
whereby the outer metal, cooling last, shrinks on to and compresses the
inner, instead of drawing outwards and weakening it, as it must do when
cooled first in a solid casting.

ROGER. The black flag hoisted by pirates. (_See_ JOLLY ROGER.)

ROGER'S BLAST. A provincialism denoting a sudden and local motion of the
air, resembling a miniature whirlwind.

ROGUE'S MARCH. The tune appropriated to drumming a bad character out of
a ship or out of a regiment.

ROGUE'S YARN. A yarn twisted the contrary way to the rest of a rope, for
detecting theft or embezzlement. Being tarred if in a white rope, but
white in a tarred rope, it is easily discovered. It is placed in the
middle of each strand in all the cordage made for the royal navy. Lately
the rogue's yarn has been superseded by a thread of worsted: a different
coloured worsted being used in each dockyard, so that any defective rope
may be traced to the place where it was made.

ROLE D'EQUIPAGE. An important document in admiralty law. (_See_
MUSTER-ROLL.)

ROLL. A unifor