rătis (rătes, acc. to Prob. p. 1473 fin.; yet perh. we should here read vates; acc. ratim, Hyg. Fab. 175), is, f. [Sanscr. ar-i-tras that which propels, an oar; Gr. ἐρέτης, rower; ἐρέσσω, to row; Lat.: remus, remigium, triremis, etc.].
1 A vessel made of logs fastened together , a raft : rates vocantur tigna colligata, quae per aquam aguntur; quo vocabulo interdum etiam naves significantur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 272 Müll.; cf. Fest. p. 273, 22 ib.: nave primus in Graeciam ex Aegypto Danaus advenit, antea ratibus navigabatur inventis in mari Rubro inter insulas a rege Erythrā, Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 206; cf. Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 2, § 5: transeunt Rhenum navibus ratibusque, Caes. B. G. 6, 35: trabibus verius quam ratibus, Plin. 3, 5, 9, § 53; Caes. B. C. 1, 25: ratibus quibus junxerat flumen, nondum resolutis, etc., i. e. pontoons , Liv. 21, 47: tamquam in rate in mari immenso nostra vehitur ratio, Cic. Tusc. 1, 30, 73 B. and K.—
2 A float : quasi pueris qui nare discunt, scirpea induitur ratis, Plaut. Aul. 4, 1, 9.—
3 Prov.: servavisti omnem ratem, you have saved us from shipwreck , Plaut. Most. 3, 3, 15; cf. id. ib. 3, 2, 53; id. Bacch. 4, 6, 27.—
B Meton., in the poets, a bark , boat , vessel , in gen.: caeruleum spumat sale confertā rate pulsum, Enn. ap. Prisc. p. 659 P. (Ann. v. 378 Vahl.); Naev. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 23 Müll.; Att. ap. Fest. s. v. rates, p. 272 ib.; Cat. 63, 1; 64, 121; Verg. G. 2, 445; id. A. 1, 43; 3, 192; 4, 53.— Of Charon's boat, Verg. A. 6, 302.