royal
see also: Royal
Etymology

From Middle English royal, from Old French roial (Modern French royal), from Latin rēgālis, from rēx ("king").

Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈɹɔɪəl/
  • (America) IPA: /ˈɹɔɪ(ə)l/
Adjective

royal (comparative royaler, superlative royalest)

  1. Of or relating to a monarch or his (or her) family.
    • 1909, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], “A Court Ball”, in The Squire’s Daughter, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published 1919, →OCLC ↗, page 9 ↗:
      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, […]
    • 2011, Marilyn Price, Grandma's Cookies, page 7:
      On the first Friday morning of his kingship he went into the kitchen and called for his royal chef.
  2. Having the air or demeanour of a monarch; illustrious; magnanimous; of more than common size or excellence.
    • 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:
      How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio;
  3. (nautical) In large sailing ships, of a mast right above the topgallant mast and its sails.
    royal mast;  royal sail
  4. (boxing, military) Free-for-all, especially involving multiple combatants.
  5. (informal) Used as an intensifier.
    a royal pain in the neck
  6. (chess) Describing 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.
Synonyms Related terms Translations Noun

royal (plural royals)

  1. (somewhat, informal, often capitalised) A royal person; a member of a royal family.
  2. (paper, printing) A standard size of printing paper, measuring 25 by 20 inches.
  3. (paper) A standard size of writing paper, measuring 24 by 19 inches.
  4. (dated) The 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. (nautical, sailing) In large sailing ships, square sail over the topgallant sail.
    • 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 ↗:
      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.
  9. An old English gold coin, the rial.
  10. (military) A small mortar.
  11. (card games) In auction bridge, a royal spade.
  12. A tuft of beard on the lower lip.
    Synonyms: imperial
  13. (campanology) Bell changes rung on ten bells.
Translations Translations Translations
  • French: cacatois
  • German: Royalsegel
  • Portuguese: real
  • Russian: бом-брамсель
  • Spanish: real

Royal
Etymology 1

A habitational surname, shaped by folk etymology, from places in England, Riehale, Righale, Ryhill and Ryall, Old English ryge + hyll ("hill"), and Royle, rā ("roe") + hyll ("hill").

Proper noun
  1. Surname.
  2. A male given name from the surname
Noun

royal (plural royals)

  1. (soccer) someone connected with Reading Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.
Etymology 2

Capitalization of royal.

Proper noun
  1. A male given name from the word "royal".
Noun

royal (plural royals)

  1. (UK, historical) A member of the first regiment of foot in the British army.
Adjective
  1. Alternative form of royal



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