Rostrum Definition
rŏstrəm, rôstrəm
rostra, rostrums
noun
rostra, rostrums
In ancient Rome,
Webster's New World
Any platform, stage, etc. for public speaking.
Webster's New World
The curved, beaklike prow of an ancient Roman ship, especially a war galley.
American Heritage
Public speaking, or public speakers collectively.
Webster's New World
The speaker's platform in an ancient Roman forum, which was decorated with the prows of captured enemy ships.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Rostrum
Noun
Singular:
rostrum
Plural:
rostra, rostrumsOrigin of Rostrum
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From Latin rōstrum, from rōdō (“gnaw"). The pulpit sense is a back-formation from the name of the Roman Rōstra, the platforms in the Forum where politicians made speeches. The Rōstra were decorated with (named f) the beaks (prows) of ships from naval victories.
From Wiktionary
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Latin rōstrum beak rēd- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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