RATH. A species of land turtle. Head erect; mouth like a shark; forelegs curved out so that the animal walked on its knees; smooth green body; lived on swallows and oysters.


Carroll's definition, printed in 1855, cited by The Annotated Alice

Rath (?), n. [Ir. rath.]

1.

A hill or mound.

[Ireland]

Spencer.

2.

A kind of ancient fortification found in Ireland.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Rath, Rathe (?), a. [AS. hrae[eth], hraed, quick, akin to OHG. hrad, Icel. hra[eth]r.]

Coming before others, or before the usual time; early.

[Obs. or Poetic]

Bring the rathe primrose that forsaken dies.
Milton.

 

© Webster 1913.

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Rath, Rathe, adv.

Early; soon; betimes.

[Obs. or Poetic]

Why rise ye up so rathe?
Chaucer.

Too rathe cut off by practice criminal.
Spencer.

 

© Webster 1913.