Riv"er (?), n.
One who rives or splits.
© Webster 1913.
Riv"er (?), n. [F. rivere 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 Zool., the hornyhead and allied species of fresh-water fishes.
-- River crab Zool., 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 Zool., 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 Zool., an alewife.
-- River hog. Zool. (a) Any species of African wild hogs of the genus Potamochœrus. They frequent wet places along the rivers. (b) The capybara.
-- River horse Zool., the hippopotamus.
-- River jack Zool., an African puff adder (Clotho nasicornis) having a spine on the nose.
-- River limpet Zool., a fresh-water, air-breathing mollusk of the genus Ancylus, having a limpet-shaped shell.
-- River pirate Zool., the pike.
-- River snail Zool., any species of fresh-water gastropods of Paludina, Melontho, and allied genera. See Pond snail, under Pond.
-- River tortoise Zool., any one of numerous fresh-water tortoises inhabiting rivers, especially those of the genus Trionyx and allied genera. See Trionyx.
© Webster 1913.
Riv"er (?), v. i.
To hawk by the side of a river; to fly hawks at river fowl.
[Obs.]
Halliwell.
© Webster 1913.