Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of River?

\Riv"er\, n. One who rives or splits.
\Riv"er\, n. [F. riv[`e]re a river, LL. riparia river, bank of a river, fr. L. riparius belonging to a bank or shore, fr. ripa a bank or shore; of uncertain origin. Cf. {Arrive}, {Riparian}.] 1. A large stream of water flowing in a bed or channel and emptying into the ocean, a sea, a lake, or another stream; a stream larger than a rivulet or brook. Transparent and sparkling rivers, from which it is delightful to drink as they flow. --Macaulay. 2. Fig.: A large stream; copious flow; abundance; as, rivers of blood; rivers of oil. {River chub} (Zo["o]l.), the hornyhead and allied species of fresh-water fishes. {River crab} (Zo["o]l.), any species of fresh-water crabs of the genus {Thelphusa}, as {T. depressa} of Southern Europe. {River dragon}, a crocodile; -- applied by Milton to the king of Egypt. {River driver}, a lumberman who drives or conducts logs down rivers. --Bartlett. {River duck} (Zo["o]l.), any species of duck belonging to {Anas}, {Spatula}, and allied genera, in which the hind toe is destitute of a membranous lobe, as in the mallard and pintail; -- opposed to sea duck. {River god}, a deity supposed to preside over a river as its tutelary divinity. {River herring} (Zo["o]l.), an alewife. {River hog}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any species of African wild hogs of the genus {Potamoch[oe]rus}. They frequent wet places along the rivers. (b) The capybara. {River horse} (Zo["o]l.), the hippopotamus. {River jack} (Zo["o]l.), an African puff adder ({Clotho nasicornis}) having a spine on the nose. {River limpet} (Zo["o]l.), a fresh-water, air-breathing mollusk of the genus {Ancylus}, having a limpet-shaped shell. {River pirate} (Zo["o]l.), the pike. {River snail} (Zo["o]l.), any species of fresh-water gastropods of {Paludina}, {Melontho}, and allied genera. See {Pond snail}, under {Pond}. {River tortoise} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous fresh-water tortoises inhabiting rivers, especially those of the genus {Trionyx} and allied genera. See {Trionyx}.
\Riv"er\, v. i. To hawk by the side of a river; to fly hawks at river fowl. [Obs.] --Halliwell.