n. (pl. -ies)
1. RC Ch. a a form of devotion in which five (or fifteen) decades of Hail Marys are repeated, each decade preceded by an Our Father and followed by a Glory Be. b a string of 55 (or 165) beads for keeping count in this. c a book containing this devotion.
2 a similar form of bead-string used in other religions.
3 a rose-garden or rose-bed.
Etymology: ME f. L rosarium rose-garden, neut. of rosarius (as ROSE(1))