Riv"er (?), n. One who rives or
splits.
Riv"er (?), n. [F. rivère
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 (Zoöl.), the hornyhead
and allied species of fresh-water fishes. -- River
crab (Zoöl.), 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
(Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), an
alewife. -- River hog. (Zoöl.)
(a) Any species of African wild hogs of the genus
Potamochœrus. They frequent wet places along the
rivers. (b) The capybara. --
River horse (Zoöl.), the
hippopotamus. -- River jack
(Zoöl.), an African puff adder (Clotho
nasicornis) having a spine on the nose. -- River
limpet (Zoöl.), a fresh-water, air-breathing
mollusk of the genus Ancylus, having a limpet-shaped
shell. -- River pirate (Zoöl.),
the pike. -- River snail
(Zoöl.), any species of fresh-water gastropods of
Paludina, Melontho, and allied genera. See Pond
snail, under Pond. -- River tortoise
(Zoöl.), 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.