Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Rolling?

\Roll"ing\, a. 1. Rotating on an axis, or moving along a surface by rotation; turning over and over as if on an axis or a pivot; as, a rolling wheel or ball. 2. Moving on wheels or rollers, or as if on wheels or rollers; as, a rolling chair. 3. Having gradual, rounded undulations of surface; as, a rolling country; rolling land. [U.S.] {Rolling bridge}. See the Note under {Drawbridge}. {Rolling circle of a paddle wheel}, the circle described by the point whose velocity equals the velocity of the ship. --J. Bourne. {Rolling fire} (Mil.), a discharge of firearms by soldiers in line, in quick succession, and in the order in which they stand. {Rolling friction}, that resistance to motion experienced by one body rolling upon another which arises from the roughness or other quality of the surfaces in contact. {Rolling mill}, a mill furnished with heavy rolls, between which heated metal is passed, to form it into sheets, rails, etc. {Rolling press}. (a) A machine for calendering cloth by pressure between revolving rollers. (b) A printing press with a roller, used in copperplate printing. {Rolling stock}, or {Rolling plant}, the locomotives and vehicles of a railway. {Rolling tackle} (Naut.), tackle used to steady the yards when the ship rolls heavily. --R. H. Dana, Jr.