Ram , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rammed (rămd); p. pr. & vb. n. Ramming.]
1. To butt or strike against; to drive a ram against or through; to thrust or
drive with violence; to force in; to drive together; to cram; as, to ram an
enemy's vessel; to ram piles, cartridges,
etc.
[They] rammed me in with foul shirts, and smocks, socks, foul stockings, greasy
napkins.
Shak. 2. To fill or compact by pounding or driving.
A ditch . . . was filled with some sound materials, and rammed to make the foundation solid.
Arbuthnot.
Ram (răm),
n. [AS.
ramm, ram; akin to OHG. & D. ram, Prov. G. ramm, and perh. to Icel. ramr strong.]
1. The male of the sheep and
allied animals. In some parts of England a ram is called a tup.
2. (Astron.) (a) Aries, the sign of the zodiac which the sun
enters about the 21st of March. (b) The constellation Aries, which does not now, as formerly, occupy the sign of the same name.
3. An engine of
war used for butting or battering. Specifically: (a) In ancient warfare, a long beam
suspended by slings in a framework, and used for battering the walls of cities; a battering-ram. (b) A heavy steel or iron beak
attached to the prow of a steam war vessel for piercing or cutting down the vessel of
an enemy; also, a vessel carrying such a beak.
4. A hydraulic ram. See under Hydraulic.
5.
The weight which strikes the blow, in a pile driver, steam hammer, stamp mill, or the like.
6. The plunger of a hydraulic press.
Ram's horn. (a) (Fort.) A low semicircular work situated in and commanding a ditch. [Written also ramshorn.]
Farrow. (b) (Paleon.) An ammonite.
Hear it pronounced