/ˈɹɔɪ.əl/, /ˈɹɔɪ(.ə)l/
OriginFrom Middle English royal, from Old French roial (Modern French royal), from Latin rēgālis, from rēx (“king”). Doublet of regal (“befitting a king”), real (“unit of currency”), ariary, and riyal. Cognate with Spanish real. Displaced native Old English cynelīċ.
- Of or relating to a monarch or his (or her) family.
“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”
“On the first Friday morning of his kingship he went into the kitchen and called for his royal chef.”
- Having the air or demeanour of a monarch; illustrious; magnanimous; of more than common size or excellence.
“How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio;”
- In large sailing ships, of a mast right above the topgallant mast and its sails.
- Free-for-all, especially involving multiple combatants.
- informalUsed as an intensifier.
“a royal pain in the neck”
- 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.”
- capitalized, informal, oftenA 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”
- A standard size of printing paper, measuring 25 by 20 inches.
- A standard size of writing paper, measuring 24 by 19 inches.
- datedThe Australian decimal currency intended to replace the pound in 1966; was changed to "dollar" before it was actually circulated.
- Any of various lycaenid butterflies.
- The fourth tine of an antler's beam.
- A stag with twelve points (six on each antler).
- In 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.”
- An old English gold coin, the rial.
- A small mortar.
- In auction bridge, a royal spade.
- A tuft of beard on the lower lip.
- Bell changes rung on ten bells.
- someone connected with Reading Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.
- UK, historicalA member of the first regiment of foot in the British army.
- A surname from Old English.
- 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.”
- A male given name from the word "royal".
Formsroyaler(comparative) · royaller(comparative) · royalest(superlative) · royallest(superlative) · r.(alternative, abbreviation) · roial(alternative, obsolete) · roiall(alternative, obsolete) · royall(alternative, obsolete) · royaler(alternative, obsolete) · royals(plural) · Royals(plural)