river
    n 1: a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek); "the
         river was navigable for 50 miles"

River \Riv"er\, n.
   One who rives or splits.
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River \Riv"er\, n. [F. riv[`e]re a river, LL. riparia river,
   bank of a river, fr. L. riparius belonging to a bank or
   shore, fr. ripa a bank or shore; of uncertain origin. Cf.
   Arrive, Riparian.]
   1. A large stream of water flowing in a bed or channel and
      emptying into the ocean, a sea, a lake, or another stream;
      a stream larger than a rivulet or brook.
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            Transparent and sparkling rivers, from which it is
            delightful to drink as they flow.     --Macaulay.
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   2. Fig.: A large stream; copious flow; abundance; as, rivers
      of blood; rivers of oil.
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   River chub (Zool.), the hornyhead and allied species of
      fresh-water fishes.

   River crab (Zool.), any species of fresh-water crabs of the
      genus Thelphusa, as Thelphusa depressa of Southern
      Europe.

   River dragon, a crocodile; -- applied by Milton to the king
      of Egypt.

   River driver, a lumberman who drives or conducts logs down
      rivers. --Bartlett.

   River duck (Zool.), any species of duck belonging to
      Anas, Spatula, and allied genera, in which the hind
      toe is destitute of a membranous lobe, as in the mallard
      and pintail; -- opposed to sea duck.

   River god, a deity supposed to preside over a river as its
      tutelary divinity.

   River herring (Zool.), an alewife.

   River hog. (Zool.)
      (a) Any species of African wild hogs of the genus
          Potamoch[oe]rus. They frequent wet places along the
          rivers.
      (b) The capybara.

   River horse (Zool.), the hippopotamus.

   River jack (Zool.), an African puff adder (Clotho
      nasicornis) having a spine on the nose.

   River limpet (Zool.), a fresh-water, air-breathing mollusk
      of the genus Ancylus, having a limpet-shaped shell.

   River pirate (Zool.), the pike.

   River snail (Zool.), any species of fresh-water gastropods
      of Paludina, Melontho, and allied genera. See Pond
      snail, under Pond.

   River tortoise (Zool.), any one of numerous fresh-water
      tortoises inhabiting rivers, especially those of the genus
      Trionyx and allied genera. See Trionyx.
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River \Riv"er\, v. i.
   To hawk by the side of a river; to fly hawks at river fowl.
   [Obs.] --Halliwell.
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River
   (1.) Heb. 'aphik, properly the channel or ravine that holds
   water (2 Sam. 22:16), translated "brook," "river," "stream," but
   not necessarily a perennial stream (Ezek. 6:3; 31:12; 32:6;
   34:13).
   
     (2.) Heb. nahal, in winter a "torrent," in summer a "wady" or
   valley (Gen. 32:23; Deut. 2:24; 3:16; Isa. 30:28; Lam. 2:18;
   Ezek. 47:9).
   
     These winter torrents sometimes come down with great
   suddenness and with desolating force. A distinguished traveller
   thus describes his experience in this matter:, "I was encamped
   in Wady Feiran, near the base of Jebel Serbal, when a tremendous
   thunderstorm burst upon us. After little more than an hour's
   rain, the water rose so rapidly in the previously dry wady that
   I had to run for my life, and with great difficulty succeeded in
   saving my tent and goods; my boots, which I had not time to pick
   up, were washed away. In less than two hours a dry desert wady
   upwards of 300 yards broad was turned into a foaming torrent
   from 8 to 10 feet deep, roaring and tearing down and bearing
   everything upon it, tangled masses of tamarisks, hundreds of
   beautiful palmtrees, scores of sheep and goats, camels and
   donkeys, and even men, women, and children, for a whole
   encampment of Arabs was washed away a few miles above me. The
   storm commenced at five in the evening; at half-past nine the
   waters were rapidly subsiding, and it was evident that the flood
   had spent its force." (Comp. Matt. 7:27; Luke 6:49.)
   
     (3.) Nahar, a "river" continuous and full, a perennial stream,
   as the Jordan, the Euphrates (Gen. 2:10; 15:18; Deut. 1:7; Ps.
   66:6; Ezek. 10:15).
   
     (4.) Tel'alah, a conduit, or water-course (1 Kings 18:32; 2
   Kings 18:17; 20:20; Job 38:25; Ezek. 31:4).
   
     (5.) Peleg, properly "waters divided", i.e., streams divided,
   throughout the land (Ps. 1:3); "the rivers [i.e., 'divisions']
   of waters" (Job 20:17; 29:6; Prov. 5:16).
   
     (6.) Ye'or, i.e., "great river", probably from an Egyptian
   word (Aur), commonly applied to the Nile (Gen. 41:1-3), but also
   to other rivers (Job 28:10; Isa. 33:21).
   
     (7.) Yubhal, "a river" (Jer. 17:8), a full flowing stream.
   
     (8.) 'Ubhal, "a river" (Dan. 8:2).
   

RIVER. A natural collection of waters, arising from springs or fountains, 
which flow in a bed or canal of considerable width and length, towards the 
sea. 
     2. Rivers may be considered as public or private. 
     3. Public rivers are those in which the public have an interest. 
     4. They are either navigable, which, technically understood, signifies 
such rivers in which the tide flows; or not navigable. The soil or bed of 
such a navigable river, understood in this sense, belongs not to the 
riparian proprietor, but to the public. 3 Caines' Rep. 307; 10 John. R. 236; 
17 John. R. 151; 20 John. R. 90; 5 Wend. R. 423; 6 Cowen, R. 518; 14 Serg. & 
Rawle, 9; 1 Rand. Rep. 417; 3 Rand. R. 33; 3 Greenl. R. 269; 2 Conn. R. 481; 
5 Pick. 199. 
     5. Public rivers, not navigable, are those which belong to the people 
in general, as public highways. The soil of these rivers belongs generally, 
to the riparian owner, but the public have the use of the stream, and the 
authors of nuisances and impediments over such a stream are indictable. Ang. 
on Water Courses, 202; Davies' Rep. 152; Callis on Sewers, 78; 4 Burr. 2162. 
     6. By the ordinance of 1787, art. 4, relating to the northwestern 
territory, it is provided that the navigable waters, leading into the 
Mississippi and St. Lawrence, and the carrying places between the same, 
shall be common highways, and forever free. 3 Story, L. U. S. 2077. 
     7. A private river, is one so naturally obstructed, that there is no 
passage for boats; for if it be capable of being so navigated, the public 
may use its waters. 1 McCord's Rep. 580. The soil in general belongs to the 
riparian proprietors. (q.v.) A river, then, may be considered, 1st. As 
private, in the case of shallow and obstructed streams. 2d. As private 
property, but subject to public use, when it can be navigated; and, 3d. As 
public, both with regard to its use and property. Some rivers possess all 
these qualities. The Hudson is mentioned as an instance; in one part it is 
entirely private property; in another the public have the use of it; and it 
is public property from the mouth as high up as the tide flows. Ang. Wat. 
Co. 205, 6. 
     8. In Pennsylvania, it has been held that the great rivers of that 
state, as the Susquehanna, belong to the public, and that the riparian 
proprietor does not own the bed or canal. 2 Binn. R. 75; 14 Serg. & Rawle, 
71. Vide, generally, Civ. Code of Lo. 444; Bac. Ab. Prerogatives, B 3; 7 
Com. Dig. 291; 1 Bro. Civ. Law, 170; Merl. Repert, h.t.; Jacobsen's Sea 
Laws, 417; 2 Hill. Abr. c. 13; 2 Fairf. R. 278 3 Ohio Rep. 496; 6 Mass. R. 
435; 15 John. R. 447; 1 Pet. C. C. Rep. 64; 1 Paige's Rep. 448; 3 Dane's R. 
4; 7 Mass. Rep. 496; 17 Mass. Rep. 289; 5 Greenl. R. 69; 10 Wend. R. 260; 
Kames, Eq. 38; 6 Watts & Serg. 101. As to the boundaries of rivers, see 
Metc. & Perk. Dig. Boundaries, IV.; as to the grant of a river, see 5 Cowen, 
216; Co. Litt. 4 b; Com. Dig. Grant, E 5.