Rocket

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ˈɹɑkɪt/
• RP IPA: /ˈɹɒkɪt/
• Rhymes: -É’kɪt

From Italian rocchetta, from Old Italian rochetto ("rocket", literally a bobbin), diminutive of rocca ("a distaff"), from Lombardic *rocco, *rocko ("a distaff"), from Proto-Germanic *rukkô ("a distaff, a staff with flax fibres tied loosely to it, used in spinning thread"). Cognate with Old High German rocco, rocko, roccho, rocho

German Rocken ("a distaff")}, Swedish rock ("a distaff"), Icelandic rokkur ("a distaff"), Middle English rocke ("a distaff"). More at rock⁴.

Noun

1. A rocket engine.
2. (military) A non-guided missile propelled by a rocket engine.
3. A vehicle propelled by a rocket engine.
4. A rocket propelled firework, a skyrocket
5. (slang) An ace (the playing card).
6. (military slang) An angry communication (such as a letter or telegram) to a subordinate.
• 1980, David Schoenbrun, Soldiers of the Night: The Story of William Joseph Donovan,

• While Robert Solborg and Jacques Lemaigre-Dubreuil were dreaming of revolts, William Joseph Donovan had learned of Solborg’s insubordination and meddling. He sent him a “rocket” ordering him out of North Africa and back to Lisbon at once. Solborg flew to Lisbon and then on to Washington to face out his problem with Donovan.
1. A blunt lance head used in jousting.

Derived terms

Full definition of rocket

Verb

1. To accelerate swiftly and powerfully
2. To fly vertically
3. To rise or soar rapidly
4. To carry something in a rocket
5. To attack something with rockets

French roquette, Italian ruchetta, diminutive of ruca, Latin eruca. Cognate to arugula.

Noun

1. The leaf vegetable Eruca sativa or Eruca vesicaria.
2. rocket larkspur

Synonyms

• US arugula
• rocket salad