the skin of any fruit that may be cut off or pared. Ring is also used for the inner bark of trees, or that whitish soft substance which adheres immediately to the wood. See PLANT.

an ornament of gold and silver, of a circular figure, and usually worn on the finger.

The episcopal ring (which makes a part of the pontifical apparatus, and is esteemed a pledge of the spiritual marriage between the bishop and his church) is of very ancient standing. The fourth council of Toledo, held in 633, appoints, that a bishop condemned by one council, and found afterwards innocent by a second, shall be restored, by giving him the ring, staff, &c. From bishops, the custom of the ring has passed to cardinals, who are to pay a very great sum pro jure anni cardinalitii.

in Navigation and Astronomy, an instrument made use of for taking an altitude of the sun, &c. It is commonly of brass, about nine inches in diameter, suspended by a small swivel, at the distance of 45°, from the point of which there is a perforation, being the centre of a quadrant of 90° divided in the inner concave surface. It is to be held up by the swivel when used, and turned round to the sun, till his rays, falling through the hole, form a spot among the degrees, by which the required altitude is pointed out. This instrument is deemed preferable to the astrolabe, because the divisions are larger than on that instrument.