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Webster 1913 Edition

Rocket

Rock′et

,
Noun.
[F.
roquette
(cf. Sp.
ruqueta
, It
ruchetta
), fr. L.
eruca
.]
(Bot.)
(a)
A cruciferous plant (
Eruca sativa
) sometimes eaten in Europe as a salad.
(b)
Damewort.
(c)
Rocket larkspur. See below.
Dyer’s Rocket
.
(Bot.)
See
Dyer's broom
, under
Broom
.
–
Rocket larkspur
(Bot.)
,
an annual plant with showy flowers in long racemes (
Delphinium Ajacis
).
–
Sea rocket
(Bot.)
,
either of two fleshy cruciferous plants (
Cakile maritima
and
Cakile Americana
) found on the seashore of Europe and America.
–
Yellow rocket
(Bot.)
,
a common cruciferous weed with yellow flowers (
Barbarea vulgaris
).

Rock′et

,
Noun.
[It.
rocchetta
, fr.
rocca
a distaff, of German origin. Named from the resemblance in shape to a distaff. See
Rock
a distaff.]
1.
An artificial firework consisting of a cylindrical case of paper or metal filled with a composition of combustible ingredients, as niter, charcoal, and sulphur, and fastened to a guiding stick. The rocket is projected through the air by the force arising from the expansion of the gases liberated by combustion of the composition. Rockets are used as projectiles for various purposes, for signals, and also for pyrotechnic display.
2.
A blunt lance head used in the joust.
Congreve rocket
,
a powerful form of rocket for use in war, invented by Sir William Congreve. It may be used either in the field or for bombardment; in the former case, it is armed with shells or case shot; in the latter, with a combustible material inclosed in a metallic case, which is inextinguishable when kindled, and scatters its fire on every side.

Rock′et

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Rocketed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Rocketing
.]
(Sporting)
To rise straight up; said of birds; usually in the present participle or as an adjective.
[Eng.]
An old cock pheasant came
rocketing
over me.
H. R. Haggard.

Webster 1828 Edition

Rocket

ROCK'ET

, n.
An artificial fire-work, consisting of a cylindrical case of paper, filled with a composition of combustible ingredients, as niter, charcoal and sulphur. This being tied to a stick and fired, ascends into the air and bursts.

ROCK'ET

,
Noun.
[L. eruca.] A plant of the genus Brassica. There is also the bastard rocket, of the genus Reseda; the corn rocket and the sea rocket, of the genus Bunias; the marsh rocket, the water rocket, and the winter rocket, of the genus Sisymbrium; and the dame's violet rocket, of the genus Hesperis.

Definition 2024

rocket

rocket

English

Noun

A rocket (vehicle propelled by a rocket engine).

rocket ‎(plural rockets)

  1. A rocket engine.
  2. (military) A non-guided missile propelled by a rocket engine.
  3. A vehicle propelled by a rocket engine.
  4. A rocket propelled firework, a skyrocket
  5. (slang) An ace (the playing card).
  6. (military slang) An angry communication (such as a letter or telegram) to a subordinate.
    • 1980, David Schoenbrun, Soldiers of the Night: The Story of the French Resistance, Dutton, ISBN 9780525206637, page 203,
      While [Colonel Robert] Solborg and [Jacques] Lemaigre[-Dubreuil] were dreaming of revolts, [William Joseph “Wild Bill”] Donovan had learned of Solborg’s insubordination and meddling. He sent him a “rocket” ordering him out of North Africa and back to Lisbon at once. Solborg flew to Lisbon and then on to Washington to face out his problem with Donovan.
  7. A blunt lance head used in jousting.
  8. (figuratively) Something that shoots high in the air.
    • 2016 September 28, Tom English, “Celtic 3–3 Manchester City”, in BBC Sport, BBC Sport:
      Fernandinho launched a rocket that flew just over. Gundogan's shot hit off Sviatchenko and Gordon and went out. City pressed and pressed.
Derived terms
See also
Translations
References
  • Watkins, Calvert (2000). The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots 2nd edn., p. 72, s.v. ruk-. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, ISBN 978-0-618-08250-6.
  • Weisenberg, Michael (2000). The Official Dictionary of Poker. MGI/Mike Caro University. ISBN 978-1880069523.
  • “rocket” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.

Verb

rocket ‎(third-person singular simple present rockets, present participle rocketing, simple past and past participle rocketed)

  1. To accelerate swiftly and powerfully
  2. To fly vertically
  3. To rise or soar rapidly
  4. To carry something in a rocket
  5. To attack something with rockets
Translations

Etymology 2

From French roquette, Italian ruchetta, diminutive of ruca, from Latin eruca. Cognate to arugula.

Noun

rocket leaf (Eruca sativa)

rocket ‎(uncountable)

  1. The leaf vegetable Eruca sativa or Eruca vesicaria.
  2. rocket larkspur (Consolida regalis)
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology

From Italian rocchetta, from Old Italian rochetto ‎(“rocket”, literally “a bobbin”), diminutive of rocca ‎(“a distaff”), from Lombardic rocko, rukka ‎(“spinning wheel”), from Proto-Germanic *rukkô ‎(“a distaff, a staff with flax fibres tied loosely to it, used in spinning thread”). Cognate with Old High German rocco, rocko, roccho, rocho ("a distaff"; > German Rocken ‎(“a distaff”)), Swedish rock ‎(“a distaff”), Icelandic rokkur ‎(“a distaff”), Middle English rocke ‎(“a distaff”). More at rock⁴.

Pronunciation

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