in Carpentry, the planing or cutting of channels or grooves. In ship-carpentry, it signifies the letting in of the planks of the ship into the keel, which, in the rake and run of a ship, is hollowed away, that the planks may join the closer.

RABBIS, or Rabbin, a title which the Pharisees and doc- tors of the law amongst the Jews assumed, and which liter- ally signifies "masters." There were several gradations be- fore they arrived at the dignity of rabbin, which was not con- ferred until they had acquired the profoundest knowledge of the law and the traditions. It does not, however, appear that there was any fixed age or previous examination necessary; but when a man had distinguished himself by his skill in the written and traditional law, and passed through the subordinate degrees, he was saluted as rabbi by the public voice. Amongst the modern Jews, for nearly seven hun- dred years past, the learned men retain no other title than that of rabbin; they have great respect paid them, and the first places or seats in the synagogues; they deter- mine all matters of controversy, and frequently pronounce upon civil affairs; and they have even power to excom- municate the disobedient.