roller

n. 1. One who, or that which, rolls; especially, a cylinder, sometimes grooved, of wood, stone, metal, etc., used in husbandry and the arts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A bandage; a fillet; properly, a long and broad bandage used in surgery. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) One of series of long, heavy waves which roll in upon a coast, sometimes in calm weather. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A long, belt-formed towel, to be suspended on a rolling cylinder; -- called also roller towel. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Print.) A cylinder coated with a composition made principally of glue and molassess, with which forms of type are inked previously to taking an impression from them. W. Savage. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A long cylinder on which something is rolled up; as, the roller of a map. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A small wheel, as of a caster, a roller skate, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Zool.) Any insect whose larva rolls up leaves; a leaf roller. see Tortrix. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. [ CF. F. rollier. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of Old World picarian birds of the family Coraciadae. The name alludes to their habit of suddenly turning over or “tumbling” in flight. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Many of the species are brilliantly colored. The common European species (Coracias garrula) has the head, neck, and under parts light blue varied with green, the scapulars chestnut brown, and the tail blue, green, and black. The broad-billed rollers of India and Africa belong to the genus Eurystomus, as the oriental roller (Eurystomus orientalis), and the Australian roller, or dollar bird (Eurystomus Pacificus). The latter is dark brown on the head and neck, sea green on the back, and bright blue on the throat, base of the tail, and parts of the wings. It has a silvery-white spot on the middle of each wing. The lilac-breasted roller of Africa is Corcia caudata caudata, a brightly colored bird of the family Corciidae having malachite green, blue, purple-lilac, brown and sea-green feathers from head to tail; it is a popular sight with tourists in Africa. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Zimbabwe Menu

The Lilac-breasted Roller (also lilacbreasted roller, Coracias caudata) is a common resident in large parts of the Southern African region including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and parts of South Africa.
They are found in a variety of woodland types and will usually be seen hawking for insects from a favoured position in a tall tree, telephone pole or similar vantage point. They tend to be quite noisy when carrying out their characteristic aerobatic display. The Lilacbreasted Roller differs from its Racket-tailed cousin in that it has pointed tail feathers not spatulate tips. The latter bird is less well distributed than the Lilacbreasted and favours moist broad-leafed woodland and hill country. [ ? ]

10. (Zool.) Any species of small ground snakes of the family Tortricidae. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ground roller (Zool.), any one of several species of Madagascar rollers belonging to Atelornis and allied genera. They are nocturnal birds, and feed on the ground. --
Roller bolt, the bar in a carriage to which the traces are attached; a whiffletree. [ Eng. ] --
Roller gin, a cotton gin inn which rolls are used for separating the seeds from the fiber. --
Roller mill. See under Mill. --
Roller skate, a skate which has small wheels in the place of the metallic runner; -- designed for use in skating upon a smooth, hard surface, other than ice. [ 1913 Webster ]