ram 1
— ramlike , adj.
/ram/ , n. , v. , rammed, ramming .
n.
1. a male sheep.
2. ( cap. ) Astron., Astrol. the constellation or sign of Aries.
3. any of various devices for battering, crushing, driving, or forcing something, esp. a battering ram.
4. (formerly) a heavy beak or spur projecting from the bow of a warship for penetrating the hull of an enemy's ship.
5. (formerly) a warship so equipped, esp. one used primarily for ramming enemy vessels.
6. the heavy weight that strikes the blow in a pile driver or the like.
7. a piston, as on a hydraulic press.
8. a reciprocating part of certain machine tools, as the toolholder of a slotter or shaper.
9. See hydraulic ram .
v.t.
10. to drive or force by heavy blows.
11. to strike with great force; dash violently against: The car went out of control and rammed the truck.
12. to cram; stuff: They rammed the gag in his mouth.
13. to push firmly: to ram a bill through the Senate.
14. to force (a charge) into a firearm, as with a ramrod.
[ bef. 900; ME: male sheep, machine for ramming, OE ram ( m ); c. D, LG ram, G Ramme; (v.) ME rammen, deriv. of the n.; cf. OHG rammen ]
Syn. 10. jam, thrust, beat, hammer.
ram 2
/ram/ , Australian.
a confidence man's associate who acts as a decoy; confederate; shill.
[ 1940-45; orig. obscure; Brit. criminal argot ramp swindle (earlier, as v.: snatch, tear) is a phonetically implausible source ]