royal

comparative royaler · comparative royaller · superlative royalest · superlative royallest · alternative abbreviation r. · alternative obsolete roial · alternative obsolete roiall · alternative obsolete royall · alternative obsolete royaler

1. Of or relating to a monarch or his (or her) family.

   On the first Friday morning of his kingship he went into the kitchen and called for his royal chef.

   2011, Marilyn Price, Grandma's Cookies, page 7

   1 more example

   He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. […] But she said she must go back, and when they joined the crowd again her partner was haled off with a frightened look to the royal circle, […]

   1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], “A Court Ball”, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC, page 9

2. Having the air or demeanour of a monarch; illustrious; magnanimous; of more than common size or excellence.

   How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio;

   c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 175, column 2

   Synonyms: kingly, monarchical, princely, queenly, regal, roy, majestic, regal

3. nauticalIn large sailing ships, of a mast right above the topgallant mast and its sails.

   royal mast;  royal sail

   Synonyms: imperial, sultanic

4. boxingFree-for-all, especially involving multiple combatants.
5. informalUsed as an intensifier.

   a royal pain in the neck

   1 more example

   Whoo! I'll show YOU a royal good time.

   1991, Interplay Productions, Battle Chess Enhanced, spoken by the Pawn, scene: Pawn takes Queen

6. board gamesDescribing a piece which, if captured, results in loss of game.

   Maharajah and the Sepoys pits a single royal amazon for white against a standard chess army for black.

plural royals · alternative abbreviation r. · alternative obsolete roial · alternative obsolete roiall · alternative obsolete royall · alternative obsolete royaler

1. capitalizedinformaloftenA royal person; a member of a royal family.

   Andy noted in RAIL 462: "The Royals are bound to have a great say in the decoration of the train and it speaks volumes for their regard for it that there are so many portraits of previous Royal Trains and items presented on trips. I sense they're extremely fond of it."

   2022 September 21, Philip Haigh, “Comment: Her Majesty's final journey”, in RAIL, number 966, page 3

2. papermediaA standard size of printing paper, measuring 25 by 20 inches.
3. paperA standard size of writing paper, measuring 24 by 19 inches.
4. datedThe Australian decimal currency intended to replace the pound in 1966; was changed to "dollar" before it was actually circulated.
5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies.
6. The fourth tine of an antler's beam.
7. A stag with twelve points (six on each antler).
8. nauticalIn large sailing ships, square sail over the topgallant sail.

   in ten days after we spoke the Solon, so rapid was his recovery, that, from lying helpless and almost hopeless in his berth, he was at the mast-heId, furling a royal.

   1840, R[ichard] H[enry] D[ana], Jr., “CHAPTER XXXV”, in Two Years before the Mast. […] (Harper’s Family Library; no. CVI), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers […], →OCLC

9. An old English gold coin, the rial.
10. governmentA small mortar.
11. card gamesIn auction bridge, a royal spade.
12. A tuft of beard on the lower lip.

    Synonyms: imperial

13. campanologyBell changes rung on ten bells.

plural Royals

1. A surname from Old English.
2. A male given name from English from the surname

   Royal - he had been his mother's little king. Most of his mates called him "Roy". Perhaps only her and Mrs Natwick had stuck to the christened name, they felt it suited.

   1974, Patrick White, Five-Twenty, Shorter Novels and Stories, Cape, published 1974, →ISBN, page 173

plural Royals

1. ball gamessomeone connected with Reading Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.

plural Royals

1. A male given name from the word "royal".

plural Royals

1. UKhistoricalA member of the first regiment of foot in the British army.

1. alternativeAlternative form of royal (in capitalised proper nouns, e.g. Royal Navy, Royal Mail)