R, the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant. It is sometimes called a semivowel, and a liquid. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 178, 179, and 250-254. “R is the dog's letter and hurreth in the sound.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

In words derived from the Greek language the letter h is generally written after r to represent the aspirated sound of the Greek "r, but does not affect the pronunciation of the English word, as rhapsody, rhetoric. [1913 Webster] The English letter derives its form from the Greek through the Latin, the Greek letter being derived from the Phœnician, which, it is believed, is ultimately of Egyptian origin. Etymologically, R is most closely related to l, s, and n; as in bandore, mandole; purple, L. purpura; E. chapter, F. chapitre, L. capitulum; E. was, were; hare, G. hase; E. order, F. ordre, L. ordo, ordinis; E. coffer, coffin. [1913 Webster]

The three Rs, a jocose expression for reading, (w)riting, and (a)rithmetic, -- the fundamentals of an education. [1913 Webster]

n. A roe; a deer. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A prefix, from the Latin re and ad combined, coming to us through the French and Italian. See Re-, and Ad-. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Ar. ra'ash trembling, tremor. ] (Zool.) The electric catfish. [ Written also raasch. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A rod or stick used by masons in mixing hair with mortar. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Rabot. ] A polishing material made of potter's clay that has failed in baking. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. Cf. Rabato. ] (Eccl.) (a) A clerical linen collar. (b) A kind of clerical scarf fitted to a collar; as, a black silk rabat. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ F. rabattre to beat down; pref. re- + abattre. See Abate, and cf. Rebate, v. ] (Falconry) To recover to the fist, as a hawk. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Rabato. ] A collar or cape. [ Obs. ] Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. rabat, fr. rabattre. See Rabate. ] A kind of ruff for the neck; a turned-down collar; a rebato. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]