This, the earliest Code or collection of maritime laws, was formulated by the people of the island of Rhodes, who, by their commercial prosperity and the superiority of their navies, had acquired the sovereignty of the seas. Its date is very uncertain, but is supposed (by Kent and others) to be about 900 B. C. Nothing of it is now extant except the article on jettison, which … [Read more...]
RIDINGS
(corrupted from trithings.) The names of the parts or divisions of Yorkshire, which, of course, are three only, viz., East Riding, North Riding, and West Riding. … [Read more...]
RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America … [Read more...]
RIEN
L. Fr. Nothing. It appears in a few law French phrases. Rien pulp. In old pleading. Not guilty. Rien dit. In old pleading. Says nothing, (nil dicit.)-Rien lny doit. In old pleading. Owes him nothing. The plea of nil debet. Riens en arrere.. Nothing in arrear. A plea in an action of debt for arrearages of account. Cowell. Riens lour denst. Not their debt. The old form of the … [Read more...]
RIAL
A piece of gold coin current for 10s., in the reign of Henry VI., at which time there were half rials and quarter rials or rial farthings. In the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's reign, golden rials were coined at 15s. a piece; and in the time of James I. there were rose rials of gold at 30s. and spur rials at 15s. Lown. Essay Coins, 38. … [Read more...]