robinet
(ˈrɒbɪnɛt)
Forms: 4–5 robynet, 5–6 -ett, 6 -ette, -att(e; 5 robenet, 6– robinet, 9 dial. robinut, robbinat.
[a. OF. Robinet, dim. of the personal name Robin Robin1.
In the following quot. probably the proper name of the single engine (but cf. sense 2): 13.. Coer de L. 1390 Another schyp was laden yet With an engyne hyghte Robynet: It was Rychardys o mangenel.]
† 1. App. some form or part of hoisting-tackle.
| 1497 Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 89 Gynne with a robenet & other apparell, j. Ibid. 113 Crane rope, j, Robenet rope, j, Slyngrope, j. 1512 in Willis & Clark Cambridge (1886) I. 608 Gynnes, wheles, cables, robynettes, sawes. |
† 2. A kind of small cannon. Obs.
| 1547 in Archaeologia LI. 263 Skottishe Gounes of Brasse..Fawcons oone. Fawconetts ix. Robynetts oone. 1587 Harrison England ii. xvi, The names of our greatest ordinance are commonlie these. Robinet, whose weight is two hundred pounds, and it hath one inch and a quarter within the mouth. 1611 Florio, Ribadochino, a small piece of ordinance called of vs a Robinet. |
3. = Robin1 2. Now north. dial.
| c 1425 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 640 Hec frigella, robynet red⁓brest. 1483 Cath. Angl. 310/2 A Robynett, frigella. 1604 Drayton Owl 137 The Sparrow and the Robinet agen, to live neere to the Mansion place of Men. 1630 ― Muses' Elys. viii. 106 The Nightingale,..To doe her best shall straine her voyce; And to this bird to make a Set, The Mauis, Merle, and Robinet. 1867– in Lanc. and Yorks. glossaries. |
4. A cock or faucet of a pipe (see quot.).
The ordinary sense of F. robinet.
| 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., Robinet, the name of some useful cocks in the steam-engine, as for gauge, brine, trial, and steam-regulator. |