King James Bible Dictionary

Used as an ornament to decorate the fingers, arms, wrists, and also the ears and the nose. Rings were used as a signet (Genesis 38:18). They were given as a token of investment with authority (Genesis 41:42; Esther 3:8-10; 8:2), and of favour and dignity (Luke 15:22). They were generally worn by rich men (James 2:2). They are mentioned by Isiah (3:21) among the adornments of Hebrew women.

Of gold
Numbers 31:50

Worn as a badge of office
Genesis 41:42

Given as a token
Esther 3:10; Esther 3:12; Esther 8:2-10

Worn in the nose
Proverbs 11:22; Isaiah 3:21

Offerings of, to the tabernacle
Exodus 35:22; Numbers 31:50

The ring was regarded as an indispensable article of a Hebrew's attire, inasmuch as it contained his signet. It was hence the symbol of authority. (Genesis 41:42; Esther 3:10) Rings were worn not only by men, but by women. (Isaiah 3:21) We may conclude from (Exodus 28:11) that the rings contained a stone engraven with a device or with the owner's name. The custom appears also to have prevailed among the Jews of the apostolic age. (James 2:2)

RING, noun

1. A circle, or a circular line, or any thing in the form of a circular line or hoop. Thus we say of men, they formed themselves into a ring to see a wrestling match. Rings of gold were made for the ark. Exodus 25:12. Rings of gold or other material are worn on the fingers and sometimes in the ears, as ornaments.

2. A circular course.

Place me, O place me in the dusty ring where youthful charioteers contend for glory.

RING, noun [from the verb.]

1. A sound; particularly, the sound of metals; as the ring of a bell.

2. Any loud sound, or the sounds of numerous voices; or sound continued, repeated or reverberated; as the ring of acclamations.

3. A chime, or set of bells harmonically tuned.

RING, verb transitive preterit tense and participle passive rung.

To cause to sound, particularly by striking a metallic body; as, to ring a bell. This word expresses appropriately the sounding of metals.

RING, verb transitive [from the noun.

1. To encircle.

2. To fit with rings, as the fingers, or as a swine's snout. Farmers ring swine to prevent their rooting.

And ring these fingers with thy household worms.

RING, verb intransitive

1. To sound, as a bell or other sonorous body, particularly a metallic one.

2. To practice the art of making music with bells.

3. To sound; to resound.

With sweeter notes each rising temple rung.

4. To utter, as a bell; to sound.

The shardborn beetle with his drowsy hums, hath rung night's yawning peal.

5. To tinkle; to have the sensation of sound continued.

My ears still ring with noise.

6. To be filled with report or talk. The whole town rings with his fame.

RING'-BOLT, noun An iron bolt with an eye to which is fitted a ring of iron.

RING'-BONE, noun A callus growing in the hollow circle of the little pastern of a horse, just above the coronet.

RING'DOVE, noun A species of pigeon, the Columba palumbus, the largest of the European species.

RING'ENT, adjective [Latin ringor, to make wry faces, that is, to wring or twist.]

In botany, a ringent or labiate corol is one which is irregular, monopetalous, with the border usually divided into two parts called the upper and lower lip; or irregular and gaping, like the mouth of an animal.

RING'ER, noun One who rings. [In the sense of wringer, not used.]

RING'ING, participle present tense Causing to sound, as a bell; sounding; fitting with rings.

RING'ING, noun The act of sounding or of causing to sound.

RING'LEAD, verb transitive To conduct. [Little used.]

RING'LEADER, noun [ring and leader.] The leader of any association of men engaged in violating of law or an illegal enterprise, as rioters, mutineers and the like. this name is derived from the practice which men associating to oppose law have sometimes adopted, of signing their names to articles of agreement in a ring, that no one of their number might be distinguished as the leader.

RING'LET, noun

1. A small ring.

2. A curl; particularly, a curl of hair.

Her golden tresses in wanton ringlets wav'd

3. A circle.

To dance our ringlets in the whistling wind.

RING'-OUSEL, noun A bird of the genus Turdus, inhabiting the hilly and mountainous parts of Great Britain.

RING'-STREAKED, adjective [ring and streak.] Having circular streaks or lines on the body; as ring-streaked goats. Genesis 30:35.

RING'-TAIL, noun [ring and tail.]

1. A kind of kite with a whitish tail.

2. A small quadrilateral sail, set on a small mast on a ship's tafferel.

RING'-WORM, noun [ring and worm.] A circular eruption on the skin; a kind of tetter. [Herpes serpigo.]