Royal tern

Royal Roy"al, a. [OE. roial, riall, real, OF. roial. reial, F. royal, fr. L. regalis, fr. rex, regis, king. See {Rich}, and cf. {regal}, {real} a coin, {Rial}.] 1. Kingly; pertaining to the crown or the sovereign; suitable for a king or queen; regal; as, royal power or prerogative; royal domains; the royal family; royal state. [1913 Webster]

2. Noble; generous; magnificent; princely. [1913 Webster]

How doth that royal merchant, good Antonio? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Under the patronage of royality; holding a charter granted by the sovereign; as, the Royal Academy of Arts; the Royal Society. [1913 Webster]

{Battle royal}. See under {Battle}.

{Royal bay} (Bot.), the classic laurel ({Laurus nobilis}.)

{Royal eagle}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Golden eagle}, under {Golden}.

{Royal fern} (Bot.), the handsome fern {Osmunda regalis}. See {Osmund}.

{Royal mast} (Naut.), the mast next above the topgallant mast and usually the highest on a square-rigged vessel. The royal yard and royal sail are attached to the royal mast.

{Royal metal}, an old name for gold.

{Royal palm} (Bot.), a magnificent West Indian palm tree ({Oreodoxa regia}), lately discovered also in Florida.

{Royal pheasant}. See {Curassow}.

{Royal purple}, an intense violet color, verging toward blue.

{Royal tern} (Zo["o]l.), a large, crested American tern ({Sterna maxima}).

{Royal tiger}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Tiger}.

{Royal touch}, the touching of a diseased person by the hand of a king, with the view of restoring to health; -- formerly extensively practiced, particularly for the scrofula, or king's evil. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Kingly; regal; monarchical; imperial; kinglike; princely; august; majestic; superb; splendid; illustrious; noble; magnanimous. [1913 Webster]