ROLL, in manufactories, something wound and folded up in a cylindrical form.
Few stuffs are made up in rolls, except sattins, gawses, and crapes; which are apt to break, and take plaits not easy to be got out, if folded otherwise. Ribbons, lace, galloons, and paduas of all kinds, are also thus rolled.
A roll of tobacco is tobacco in the leaf, twisted on the mill, and wound twist over twist about a stick or roller. A great deal of tobacco is sold in America in rolls of various weights; and it is not till its arrival in England, Spain, France, and Holland, that it is cut.
A roll of parchment, properly denotes the quantity of 60 skins.
The ancients made all their books up in the form of rolls, and in Cicero's time the libraries consisted wholly of such rolls.